NEW DELHI: Delhi government has permitted gyms and yoga institutes to open and extended permission to weekly markets to function till September 30, an order issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority late on Sunday evening stated. Gyms and yoga institutes can open from Monday provided they strictly follow all Covid guidelines and the standard operating procedure issued by the Union health ministry.
“The Covid situation in Delhi has been reviewed and it has been decided that the current arrangement of opening of weekly markets on a trial basis, that is, one weekly market per day per zone in all three municipal corporations/NDMC/Delhi Cantonment Board (except in containment zones) may be continued till September 30,” said the order issued by chief secretary Vijay Dev, who is also chairman of DDMA’s state executive committee.
The order added that gymnasiums and yoga institutes may also be allowed to open subject to strict compliance of the ministry’s SOP.
According to the SOP, SPA’s, steam baths and swimming pools will remain shut. “Vulnerable” people — those age above 65 years, children under 10, people with comorbidities — are not permitted. Visitors must wear face covers all the time and maintain a distance of two yards.
Gyms and yoga centres are also required to keep a gap of 15-30 minutes between batches and sanitise and disinfect the premises between shifts.
No gym or yoga institute located within the containment zone will be allowed to open. Delhi currently has 1,488 containment zones spread across 11 districts. The district magistrates and other authorities concerned have been asked to ensure that the gyms and yoga institutes strictly adhere to the SOP.
“In case of any violation, the owner and manager of the premises will be liable for prosecution under Delhi Disaster Management Act, 2005 besides sealing of such premises,” the order stated.
The order has come as a big relief to more than 5,000 gyms and a large number of yoga institutes in the city, which have been closed for over five months since the Covid-19 lockdown. Most of these establishments are in deep financial distress
