The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA,) on the 15th of April, issued the guidelines for the extended lockdown till the 3rd of May.
On the 14th of April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an extension to the lockdown till the 3rd of May. Initial lockdown was imposed on the 25th of March till the 14th of April. However, due to the increasing numbers of the Novel Coronavirus infection cases, the Central Government extended the lockdown.
Similar to previous lockdowns, gym, shopping malls, theatres, public parks, swimming pools, schools, colleges, transportation and other public services remain shut.
However, during the second lockdown, the Central Government is expected to allow some relaxation in specific areas of Indian states, if COVID-19 cases decrease.
All the areas and districts of India would be under supervision till the 20th of April. The concerned officials would be monitoring all localities, areas, districts of India in terms of following the guidelines and implementing the lockdown.
If all the districts are able to control the spread of the virus and will not let the hotspots increase, some relaxation would be announced amid the lockdown.
However, if the hotspots or the containment clusters increase, the Modi Government would announce strict rules and guidelines of the imposed lockdown. According to the health experts, the coming two weeks are said to be crucial and could result in a peak in the COVID-19 infection cases.
Below are the guidelines of the Lockdown imposed till the 3rd of May:
Prohibited Areas and Activities Across India
- Domestic and International travel by air except for security purposes
- Train services for passengers except security purposes
- Bus services, metro services and other public transportation including rickshaws, autos, taxis and cabs.
- Inter district and inter state movement of people except for medical emergencies.
- Educational and training centres remain closed.
- Functioning of industries and commercial factories other than one with permission.
- Hospitality services except the ones with permission.
- Gatherings for regional, political, sports, academic, entertainment, social and cultural.
- Funeral or congregation of more than 20 people.
- Ban on sale of gutka, tobacco and alcohol.
Functioning Sectors and Activities During The Lockdown:
- Agriculture and horticulture would function as normal by farmers
- Agencies manufacturing agricultural products
- Manufacture, distribution and retail market for fertilizers, seeds and pesticides.
- Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) all related to agriculture and farming machinery
- Shops manufacturing and selling agricultural machines
- Fishing and its markets
- Plantation of tea and coffee, cashew and rubber plantation with 50 % working staff.
- Banks/ATMs/Income Tax (IT) departments workers, Banking Correspondents (BCs,) ATM operations and cash management agencies.
- IRDA and Insurance companies
- Grocery shops (kirana) selling essential commodities
- Parcel services from trains and cargo, both inter state and intra state.
- Security staff at banks and other agencies for security purpose
- Media and broadcasting services including DTH and cable service.
- Internet services
- Government run common service centres at gram panchayat level
- Hotels, homestays, hostels, motels accommodating travelers stranded due to lockdown
- Self employed service providers like electricians, plumbers, motor mechanics, carpenters and other
- Security staff and residential complex management staff
- Industries manufacturing essential goods and medicines.
- Coal and mine production, LPG, Petrol, diesel and oil supply.
- Construction of roads, buildings and bridges outside the municipalities limits, i.e., rural areas.
- Offices of the Government of India in states and union territories.
According to sources, every state identified containment clusters and announced it to be the red zone for the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. In these areas, state and union territories governments would decide the rules and parameters based on the rules issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW.)
The strict rules would be imposed on all the containment areas and the above issued guidelines by the MHA would not be applicable on these areas.
Individuals Dos during the lockdown:
- Wear face mask
- Social distancing of 3 km radius
- Not spit in public places
- Not gather for marriage, funerals and other congregation
- Arrangement for work from home
- Extra care towards senior citizens
Anyone seen violating any of the aforementioned guidelines would be charged under the relevant section of the Indian Penal Code, Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Epidemic Disease Act, 1897.
Stay tuned for further updates.
