Parks, malls in Gurgaon to be opened from next week

Places of worship will, however, remain shut until further orders

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/INDIA (File) Representational image

Parks and malls in Gurgaon will be opened from next week, even as the authorities are planning to impose 'limited lockdown' in its containment zones.

Gurgaon Municipal Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh clarified that places of worship, however, will remain shut until further orders. “Malls and parks will be opened and will have to follow strict anti-COVID standard operating procedure. We, however, are still deliberating on religious places. They will remain shut as of now,” said Singh.

While Gurgaon has achieved a recovery rate of 62 per cent and the administration claimed that COVID-19 situation has been under control in the last one week, the district will still go for a 'limited lockdown' in around 100 containment zones. Gurgaon is among the 20 districts with worst doubling rate, as identified by Union health ministry.

As a part of the lockdown, there will be increased restrictions in the containment zones. The district administration, local police and health authorities are working on a plan, which will include measures like no free movement, antigen testing of all vulnerable, and isolation of symptomatic.

“We have, in a way, brought the situation under control and will now increase focus on high risk clusters. There will be additional security, no free movement and extensive screening and testing of all contacts and symptomatic with antigen testing kits. The high risk areas will be restrained for next two weeks,” said DC Amit Khatri.

It may be noted that Gurgaon has started antigen testing in which the results are available within minutes. The district is also going for sero survey. Gurgaon has so far reported more than 5,000 COVID-19 cases and 76 deaths. It now has 1,734 active cases, accounting for 40 per cent of Haryana's active cases.