Agra, June 3 (IANS): Relief and a degree of cheer returned as shops in Agra district opened to re sume commercial activities. Senior police officials however warned bazar com mittees that there would be no relaxations in the guidelines relating to san itisation and social distancing. Agra's Covid-19 graph touched 916, with nine new cases till Tuesday e vening.

District magistrate PN Singh said 796 had recovered and 72 were under treatm ent. The death toll increased to 44, with one more death on Tuesday. The private nursing homes and hospitals have been allowed to open from today to offer Medicare to patients, after observing the protocol, health officia ls said. Several teams of the department are continuously monitoring and scr eening people in the 41 containment zones.

Thousands of vehicle owners, two wheeler users in particular, have been chal laned for traffic rule violations and for not wearing masks. The administration is keeping a close watch on how things play in next coupl e of days, after opening of markets.

A strict vigil is being kept to keep a t ab on the health front, officials said. If all goes well, the tourism sector may be allowed some relief in coming da ys, including opening of the Taj Mahal and other monuments. But right now, the UP roadways buses, incoming trains and the flights from J aipur have not gained from the anticipated rush of passengers.