Image Source: ECONOMIC TIMES

The Centre has extended the nationwide lockdown, put in to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, by two more weeks. It was set to end this Sunday but now it has been pushed to May 17. After a comprehensive review, and in view of the lockdown measures having led to significant gains in the COVID-19 situation in the country, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India issued an Order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, today, to further extend the lockdown for a further period of two weeks beyond May 4, 2020, said a home ministry notification. The extension will however see some relaxations which will be regulated based on the spread of the virus in the districts, identified as red (hotspot), green and orange zones.

The green zones are districts with either zero confirmed cases till date; or, no confirmed case in the last 21 days. The classification of districts as red zones will take into account the total number of active cases, doubling rate of confirmed cases, extent of testing and surveillance feedback from the districts. Those districts, which are neither defined as Red nor Green, shall be classified as Orange zones.

Red zone: These will see intensified surveillance protocols, contact tracing and 100% coverage of Aarogya Setu app. Containment zones will see house to house surveillance, home/ institutional quarantining of affected, and clinical management. Strict perimeter will be ensured.

What is allowed ( with restrictions and social distancing)

1. Movement of individuals and vehicles with a maximum of 2 persons (besides the driver) in four-wheeler vehicles, and with no pillion rider in the case of two-wheelers.
2. Special Economic Zones, Export Oriented Units , industrial estates and industrial townships.
3. Manufacturing units of essential goods, including drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, their raw materials.
4. Manufacturing of IT hardware
5. Jute industry with staggered shifts and social distancing; and, manufacturing units of packaging material.
6. Construction activities limited to in-situ construction (where workers are available on site).
7. All standalone (single) shops, neighborhood (colony) shops and shops in residential complexes.
8. E-Commerce activities only in respect of essential goods.
9. Private offices can operate with upto 33% strength .
10. All Government offices
11. Food-processing units
12. All agriculture activities
13. All plantation activities
14. All health services (including AYUSH)
15. Banks, non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), insurance and capital market activities.
16. Public utilities