The Centre has extended the nationwide lockdown for two more weeks until May 31 with significant relaxations. In an order, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued guidelines for the fourth phase of the lockdown. According to the guidelines, barbershops, salons, shopping complexes and markets can now open starting Monday. However, domestic flights, schools/colleges and hotels will continue to remain shut throughout the country. The government has also allowed inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses with mutual consent of states. The MHA said states will decide various zones, taking into consideration parameters shared by the Health Ministry.
List of activities that will remain prohibited throughout the lockdown
- All domestic and international air travel of passengers, except for domestic medical services, domestic air ambulance and for security purposes or purposes as permitted by MHA.
- Metro rail services
- Schools, colleges, educational/training/coaching institutions etc will remain closed. Online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.
- Hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services, except those meant for housing health/police/ government officials/healthcare workers/stranded persons including tourists and for quarantine facilities and running of canteens at bus depots, railway stations and airports. Restaurants shall be permitted to operate kitchens for home delivery of food items.
- All cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places. Sports complexes and stadia will be permitted to open; however, spectators will not be allowed.
- All social/political/sports/entertainment/academic/culturual/religious functions/other gatherings and large congreagtions.
- All religious places/places of worship shall be closed for public. The religious congregation are strictly prohibited.
List of activities permitted with restrictions, except in containment zones
- Inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, with mutual consent of the state(s)/UT(s) involved.
- Intra-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, as decided by the states and UTs.
- Standard operating procedures for movement of persons, as mentioned in Annexure 1, shall continue to operate.
Containment, Buffer, Red, Green and Orange zones
- The delineation of Red, Green and Orange zones will be decided by the respective state and UT governments, after taking into consideration the parameters shared by the Health Ministry.
- Within the red and orange zones, containment zones and buffer zones will be demarcated by the district authorities after taking into consideration the guidelines of the Health Ministry.
- In the containment zones, only essential activities shall be allowed. there shall be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services. guidelines of the health ministry shall be taken into consideration for the above purpose.
- In the containment zones, there shall be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance, and other clinical interventions, as required.
Night curfew
The movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm to 7 am, except for essential activities. Local authorities shall issue orders, in the entire area of their jurisdiction, under appropriate provisions of law, such as prohibitory orders (curfew) under section 144 of CrPC and ensure strict compliance.
Protection of vulnerable persons
Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years, shall stay at home, except for essential and health purposes.
All other activities will be permitted, except those which are specifically prohibited.
However, in containment zones, only essential activities shall be allowed.
Further. states/UTs based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain other activities in the various zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary.
Use of Aarogya Setu
- Aarogya Setu enables early identification of potential risk of infection, and thus acts as a shield for individuals and the community.
- With a view to ensuring safety in offices and work places, employers on best effort basis should ensure that Aarogya Setu is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones.
- District authorities may advise individuals to install the Aarogya Setu app on compatible mobile phones and regularly update their health status on the app. This will facilitate the timely provision of medical attention to those individuals who are at risk.
Special directions to ensure movement of persons and goods in certain cases
- All states/UTs shall allow inter-state and intra-state movement of medical professionals, nurses, and para medical staff, sanitation personnel and ambulances, without any restriction.
- All states/UTs shall allow inter-state movement of all types of goods/cargo, including empty trucks.
- No state/ut shall stop the movement of any type of goods/cargo for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries.
Penal provisions
Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Sec 188 of the IPC, and other legal provisions as applicable.
