Coronavirus: MHA issues orders to extend lockdown for 2 more weeks from May 4

The Government on Friday announced a two-week extension of the coronavirus lockdown beyond May 3, banning the movement of people between 7 pm and 7 am but allowing bus transport and plying of taxis in districts with no cases in 21 days. It also allowed the sale of liquor, the functioning of private offices and industrial and construction activities in rural areas.

Once this third edition of lockdown is completed on May 17, the country would see 53 days of restrictions at a stretch since March 25 when it was first imposed for 21 days till April 14. The lockdown was then extended till May 3.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which issued the orders extending the lockdown, said green and orange zones will enjoy “considerable relaxations” while red zones too get some but with stringent restrictions.

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The relaxations come as the government did a “risk profiling” of districts into red, orange and green zones, which will be updated weekly by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Red zone districts will be identified depending on the number of cases active cases, doubling rate of infection, the extent of testing and surveillance feedback while a green zone will be marked if it does not have a confirmed case for last 21 days. Those districts which do not fall in either of the categories will be listed in the orange zone.

Municipal areas in a district will continue to remain a red or orange zone as identified by the Ministry of Health while the states are allowed to lower the grade to orange or green zone respectively if there are no cases for 21 days in other areas.

Air, rail, metro and interstate road transport, as well as all types of gatherings, continue to be in the ban list while educational institutions and public places like shopping malls, theatres and religious places will remain closed.

Except this, all activities are allowed in the green zone. However, buses can ply with only 50% seating capacity within green zones while depots can operate with up to 50% capacity.

According to the order, all industrial and construction activities are allowed in rural areas in all zones while such activities have restrictions in urban areas in red zones. Private offices with one-third strength are also allowed to function.

Sale of liquor, paan, gutka and tobacco are permitted from May 4 except in containment zones but shopkeepers will have to ensure that no more than five persons are at the shop at a given time and they stand at least six feet apart. Wearing a face mask in public will continue to be compulsory while spitting is prohibited.

However, across the country, movement of individuals for non-essential activities will remain "strictly prohibited" between 7 PM and 7 AM. Local authorities should issue orders for curfew or prohibitory orders under Section 144 to ensure this, the MHA order said.

Senior citizens above 65 years, those with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years should remain at home except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes, the order said.

In red zones, cycle rickshaws, autos, taxis, cab aggregators and intra-state or inter-district plying of buses are not permitted. Barbershops, spas and salons also will remain closed in these high-risk areas.

However, the movement of individuals and vehicles are allowed for permitted activities in red zones. Four-wheelers can have a maximum of two passengers besides the driver is allowed. Pillion riders are not allowed for two-wheelers.

Like in the April 15 guidelines, Special Economic Zones, Export Oriented Units, industrial estates and industrial townships, manufacturing units of essential goods, jute industry and manufacturing of IT hardware among others.

All malls, shopping complexes and markets will remain closed in urban areas of a red zone. This time, shops selling essential items in markets and market complexes in urban areas can operate unlike in the April 15 guidelines. Stand-alone shops are also allowed in these areas. All shops in rural areas are allowed to open in a red zone.