Jehangir Sofi
Srinagar, Jul 6: As Covid cases have shown a significant dip, authorities on Tuesday ordered reopening of all paid and unpaid parks in Srinagar baring weekend days for visitors who are either vaccinated or have a valid negative RT-PCR within 48 hours.
Officials said that those who do not fit into both categories will be subjected to a rapid test before being allowed to enter.
An order issued by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar read that significant improvement has been observed in the daily/weekly positivity rate in district Srinagar since the past few weeks.
“A series of meetings with the Department of Tourism, Department of Floriculture, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, in-charge of all historical gardens and other stakeholders regarding the opening of the parks was done,” the document said.
The order stated that, “After a threadbare discussion it was decided that all paid/unpaid parks of district Srinagar shall be allowed to open on all days except Saturdays and Sundays (owing to weekend Curfew), subject to following conditions…that the entry shall be permitted only to vaccinated persons or to a person carrying COVID negative test report within 48 hours prior to entry or on spot test (if a person is not vaccinated)”.
There shall be strict compliance to COVID-19 guidelines/SOPs issued by the State Executive Committee and COVID appropriate behaviour, the order reads further.
The order further directed that, the departments concerned shall ensure strict adherence to COVID appropriate behaviour like wearing of face masks, social distancing, proper hand sanitation etc. inside the park/garden by the visitors.
The Deputy Commissioner has also asked the District Floriculture Officer and in-charge officials of parks and gardens to ensure availability of multiple Counters for registering the visitors in order to avoid congestion. “Chief Medical Officer, Srinagar shall deploy dedicated teams for on-spot testing/Vaccination,” read the order.
