Karachi: The government of Sindh has announced an easing of restrictions related to COVID-19 in the province.

The meeting of the Provincial Coronavirus Working Group held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah decided to ease lockdown restrictions following the decrease in coronavirus cases in the province.

The meeting was informed that the coronavirus positivity rate in Karachi was 12.45% as of June 1, 2021 and had decreased to 8.25% on June 5, but the COVID-19 death rate remained at 1. 6%.

The meeting enabled traders in the province to keep their stores and businesses open every day from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Previously, traders and traders were allowed to keep stores open until 6 p.m. daily.

The task force also authorized restaurants to offer outdoor dining services until midnight. Retailers and restaurateurs have been offered these flexibilities on the condition that workers associated with stores and restaurants get vaccinated against the coronavirus within the next two weeks.

After two weeks, the government will start checking the immunization status of workers in shops and restaurants.

The CM also ordered the Karachi commissioner to reopen the city’s beach to the public, but with the display of signs and banners asking people to comply with security measures against COVID-19.

The working group also decided to allow the reopening of beauty and hair salons in accordance with standard operating procedures against the spread of coronavirus infection.

The meeting decided that the wedding halls would be allowed to reopen after two weeks. The working group decided to authorize the resumption of classroom teaching for pupils in grade 9 and above.

The Sindh CM has called on the Minister of Education to ensure that staff members of educational institutions get vaccinated against the coronavirus as soon as possible.

He said the coronavirus vaccination was mandatory for retailers, school staff and workers associated with the transportation sector.