PM MODI Declares nationwide lockdown till 3 May- MHA Issues New Guidelines

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Revised guidelines permit transportation of goods without distinction of essential or non-essential

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a set of detailed guidelines for the lock down that will remain in force till 3 May. The revised guidelines permit all health services and the social sector to remain functional. Public utilities to function without any hindrance. The supply chain of essential goods to operate without any hindrance and, important offices of Centre and state governments and local bodies to remain open with the required strength.

Other key guidelines include that transportation of goods will be permitted without any distinction of essential or non-essential.

State govts to demarcate hot spots, containment zones; only essential services permitted in areas

The Ministry of Home Affairs’ new guidelines says that states, Union Territories (UTs) and district administrations will demarcate hot spots and containment zones as per the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

“Very strong containment measures will be implemented in the hotspot districts accounting for a large number of COVID-19 cases or with the fast growth of cases,” Ministry of Home Affairs’ revised guidelines for lock down says.

Only essential services have been permitted in these zones and strict perimeter control and strict restrictions on movement enforced.

Domestic travel ban to remain till 3 May

All inter-state and district restrictions on movement of people, including metro, bus services will continue till 3 May according to the MHA guidelines on lock down.

Movement of persons allowed under only certain conditions

According to the latest update released by MHA, movement of persons is allowed in the following cases:

Private vehicles for emergency services, including medical and veterinary care and for procuring essential commodities. In such cases, one passenger besides the private vehicle driver can be permitted in the backseat, four-wheelers; however, in case of two-wheelers, only the driver of the vehicle is to be permitted.

All personnel travelling to place of work and back in the exempted categories, as per the instructions of the State/ UT local authority.

Cinema halls, malls, to remain shut till 3 May

Activities prohibited across the country include travel by air, rail and road; operation of educational and training institutions; industrial and commercial activities; hospitality services; all cinema halls, shopping complexes, theatres, etc.; all social, political and other events; and opening of all religious places/places of worship for members of public, including religious congregations.

 

MHA makes wearing of masks compulsory; opens certain industries post 20 April

MHA issued guidelines for COVID-19 lock down on Wednesday. Masks have been made compulsory, however, some industries will be allowed to resume work post 20 April onwards.

All social, political, sports, religious functions, religious places, places of worship shall remain closed for public till 3 May, the ministry of home affairs has said in its guidelines on the extended lock down.

 

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Highway shops, truck repairing shops open post 20 April

Highway 'dhabas', truck repairing shops, and call centres for government activities shall remain open post 20 April, according to MHA guidelines issued to Wednesday. Manufacturing units of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, construction of medical infrastructure will also remain open 20 April onwards.

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Centre asks states/UTs to ensure strict compliance of guidelines issued by MHA

Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to States/UTs to ensure strict compliance with Consolidated Revised Guidelines on lockdown measures to contain the COVID-19 epidemic in the country.

"States/UTs cannot dilute restrictions imposed via aforesaid guidelines", said the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

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WHAT'S OPEN DURING LOCK DOWN 2.0

• All kinds of essential services have been exempted from restrictions. These services include all health workers -- doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and sanitation workers.
• Media persons belonging to print and electronic media have also been exempted from lock down, though they too can't enter the containment zones, also known as hot spots.
• Homes of children, disabled, mentally challenged or senior citizens, women, among others will also remain open.
• Movement, loading or unloading of goods cargo -- both inter or intrastate -- will be allowed.
•  MNREGA works are allowed with strict implementation of social distancing and use of face mask.
•  Hotels, homestays, lodges and motels will remain operational.
•  Services provided by self-employed people, including electrician, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters will also remain operational.
•  Industries in rural areas, SEZs, and EOU zones, units making essential goods, food processing units, IT hardware companies, coal production will be allowed to function.
•  Construction of roads, irrigation projections, buildings and all kinds of industrial projects, including MSMEs, in rural areas and construction of renewable energy projects will be allowed.
•  The government will also ease restrictions for farm workers since the rabi crop harvest season has started in states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
•  All security personnel, including police and security forces, are also exempted from the lock down.
•  All kinds of essential service agencies, including cook gas agencies, fuel pumps, ration shops, wholesale and retail shops and vegetable mandis, will remain open.
•  Pathology labs will also be allowed to operate amid the lock down. Notably, the government has also roped in various private labs to conduct COVID-19 tests.
•  Goods trucks carrying goods -- weather or not essential goods -- within states and outside states will be allowed to operate during the extended lockdown period.
•  People in areas not identified as containment zones are allowed to go out to buy essential items like ration, vegetables, milk, etc.
•  IT services for essential services, internet and telecommunication services will also remain open.

WHAT'S CLOSED

• All domestic and international air travel for the general public; all passenger trains; bus transport; and metro rail services will remain closed.
•  Taxis, including auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws, and services of cab aggregators will not operate during the extended lock down.
•  All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious activities also stand suspended.
•  All religious places of worship will be closed for public during the lock down. In the case of funerals, the congregation of more than 20 persons will not be permitted.
•  To mitigate hardship, select additional activities have been allowed from April 20. However, states or UTs will separately take the final call on the relaxation of curbs. PM Modi on Tuesday had also said that areas with no corona virus cases could be exempted some restrictions from April 20.
•  All education institutes will remain shut.
•  All social, political, sports, cultural, academic, entertainment and religious gatherings are prohibited.