Chandigarh: A ban on the operation of hookah bars was imposed in the Union Territory from December 14 to February 11 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
An order issued by District Magistrate Mandip Singh Brar on Monday stated that no hookah shall be served for smoke/consumption in hotels/restaurants/taverns/bars etc, Hindustan Times (HT) reported.
“Under Section 144, hookah bars are banned to operate in Chandigarh with respect to their offering Hookahs to visitors from December 14, 2020, to February 11, 2021,” the order stated.
Brar had earlier said that since customers smoke or consume hookahs through a common bowl, pipe and a hose having a mouthpiece, it is susceptible to physical mouth to mouth contact of many people, thus posing danger to human life, health and safety by becoming a cause of as well as leading to the transmission and spread of COVID-19 infection here, the report added
Before this, the order to ban hookah bars was effective for 60 days, from October 14 to December 12.
