In a televised address on Tuesday 14th April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the lockdown in India till May 3rd 2020. The lockdown that began on March 25th, will see some relaxation in areas that are not coronavirus hotspots and certain activities will be permitted post appraisal of the situation on April 20th. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a 15-page guideline to follow during lockdown 2.0.
Below are some of the main highlights:
- Wearing a face cover is compulsory in all public places and workplaces. Spitting in public places shall be punishable with a fine.
- Grocery stores, fruit and vegetables carts, milk booths, poultry, meat and fish shops to remain open.
- Bank branches, ATMs, IT vendors for banking operations, banking correspondents and cash management agencies to remain functional.
- Hospitals, nursing homes, chemists, pharmacies and veterinary hospitals to remain open.
- All international and domestic flights as well as train services remain suspended. Buses and metros to remain suspended as well during this period.
- Cab aggregators, taxis, auto and cycle rickshaws to remain prohibited during lockdown.
- All educational institutions shall remain closed.
- Cinema halls, malls, sports complexes, gyms, swimming pools, theaters and bars to remain closed.
- All places of worship to remain closed.
- Manufacturing and industrial establishments functioning in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and Export Oriented Units (EOU), industrial estates and industrial townships have been allowed to resume operations after April 20. These establishments will have to make arrangements for the stay and transport of its workers as per requirements.
- Manufacturing units producing essential goods such as drugs, medicines etc may continue to function.
- Movement, loading/unloading f goods and cargo both inter and intra state is allowed under specific conditions.
For more details please visit: https://www.mha.gov.in/