COVID-19 Lockdown 2.0: MHA issues guidelines

In view of the extended lockdown to stem the spread of Covid-19, Ministry of Home Affairs has issued fresh guidelines in which selected additional activities can resume operations after April 20. However, all the transport facilities will remain suspened till May 3 and wearing masks have been made compulsory.

New Delhi: Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced extended nationwide lockdown till May 3 to contain the spread of the COVID-19, Ministry of Home Affairs has issued guidelines. To mitigate the hardship of public, selected additional activities will be allowed, which will come into effect from 20 April 2020.

Fresh guidelines were issued by the government on Wednesday for enforcing the second phase of the coronavirus lockdown, with the Union home ministry barring all kinds of public transport and prohibiting the opening of public places during this period.

COVID-19 Lockdown 2.0: MHA issues guidelines

Inter-state, inter-district movement of people, metro, bus services continue will be prohibited till May 3, the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines said. Educational institutions, coaching centres, domestic, international air travel, train services will also remain suspended till this time, it said.

COVID-19 Lockdown 2.0: MHA issues guidelines

Public places like cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, bars will also be shut till May 3, the new lockdown period declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. All social, political, sports, religious functions, religious places, places of worship shall be closed for public till May 3, it said.

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However agricultural, horticultural, farming, procurement of Agri products, 'mandis related activities can come into effect from April 20. Guidelines further stated that shops of farm machinery, its spare parts, supply chain, repairs, 'Custom Hiring Centres' related to machinery will also remain open.

Relaxation has also been given to manufacturing units of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, construction of medical infrastructure which can resume operations from April 20. Apart from these, Highway 'dhabas', truck repair shops, call centres for govt activities will also remain open.

MHA has said that wearing masks in public places is mandatory and spitting in public places will be a punishable offence. It says select industrial and commercial activities will be allowed after April 20 in those areas which are not designated as containment zones.

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The guidelines also stipulate the norms to be followed by the industrial and commercial establishment, including sanitisation of the premises with human-friendly disinfectant and social distancing. Activities would continue to be allowed till the zone or districts do not slip back to containment zone.

The nation-wide lockdown is aimed to contain the spread of the pandemic that has killed over 370 people and infected over 11,000 in the country.

(With inputs from PTI)