Lockdown extended for 2 more Weeks; Govt Issues Strict Guidelines to follow. Details listed!

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday announced that the Nation-wide Lockdown which was imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 will be extended for two more weeks.

The restrictions imposed in this lockdown will be relatively lower than the ones that was imposed previously. The strictness of the lockdown will depend on the severity of COVID19 in respective zones and the classification it falls under. 

The Centre had earlier divided all districts based on its severity into red, green and orange zones. The list was last updated on April 30.  This list is updated on a weekly basis. 

The union ministry issued guidelines for Lockdown 3.0 after analysing the situation and the various benefits that a lockdown could have in controlling the spread of the pandemic. 

"The guidelines have permitted considerable relaxations in the districts falling in the Green and Orange Zones," it read.

As per the guidelines, certain activities will remain prohibited throughout the country irrespective of the zones. "These include travel by air, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road; running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/ coaching institutions; hospitality services, including hotels and restaurants; places of large public gatherings, such as cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes etc; social, political, cultural and other kinds of gatherings; and, religious places/ places of worship for public.”

The movement of individuals in non-essential services will be prohibited from 7am to 7pm. Even barber shops, salons and spas will remain closed in urban areas.

Shops other than shopping malls will be allowed to operate. 

Sale of liquor has been allowed ln all zones, however, not in malls, marketing complexes, and in containment areas. The order reads "Shops selling liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco etc. in public places will ensure minimum six feet distance (2 gaz ki doori) from each other, and also that not more than 5 persons are present at one time at the shop."

However, movement of persons by air, rail and road is allowed for select purposes as permitted by the home ministry. Regulations on vehicular movement differs for different zones depending upon the severity.