Hotels, Restaurants, Gyms Open As Sikkim Eases COVID-19 Restrictions

Hotels, restaurants and gymnasiums opened in Sikkim on Wednesday as the Himalayan state eased coronavirus-induced restrictions.

A notification issued by Chief Secretary SC Gupta on Tuesday said hotels and restaurants would be allowed to open with 50 per cent capacity.

Restaurants have been given the approval to remain open till 8 pm. The gyms opened at 7 am on the condition that they would have only 50 per cent occupancy at any given time and must be closed at 6 pm.

The shops will remain open for an hour longer, that is, from 8 am to 6 pm, but the vehicular movement will remain shut from 9 pm to 7 am in the state, the notification said.

Inter-district movement of people and vehicles will resume from June 18 by following the odd-even rule, while the inter-state movement of goods will be allowed for all vehicles, except light transport vehicles.

The relaxations were announced despite the state being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with 13 positive cases so far.

Three of the patients have recovered and the remaining 10 people are undergoing treatment at the STNM Hospital.