New SOP: Restaurants to remain shut for dine-ins after 6:00 PM; home delivery can continue

The Government of Assam has issued a clarification to the standard operating procedure released yesterday. In the SOP it was mentioned that shops, malls and other commercial complexes to remain shut post 6:00 pm.

However, it wasn’t made clear at what time the restaurants and food stalls must shut. That created a lot of confusion in the state. Today, the state machinery has issued a clarification order to clear all doubts. 

The order states, “Restaurants, Dhabas and other eateries can entertain dine-in guest only up to 6:00 PM. However, take away/ home delivery is allowed upto the usual time of closure as per local regulations.

It adds, “Restaurants operating within a Hotel or Resort can allow outside guests up to 6 00 PM only. However, in-house guests of the Hotel/Resort may be allowed to dine-in up to the usual time of operation.”

It is worth mentioning here that delivery of essential goods through e-Commerce may continue after 6.00 PM. Cold storages and warehouses may continue beyond 6.00 PM 

“However, sale counters, showrooms etc attached to these warehouses or cold storages shall close after 6:00 PM,” according to the order issued today.  

Pharmacies, Hospitals, Animal Care Centres and Veterinary clinics may operate without restrictions being providers of essential and emergency services.