Coronavirus Pandemic LIVE Updates: Lockdown Extended for 2 Weeks Beyond May 4; Non-essential Movement in All Zones Prohibited from 7pm to 7am
Coronavirus Pandemic LIVE Updates: The Ministry of Home Affairs today issued an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to extend the nationwide lockdown for a further period of two weeks beyond May 4, it said in a statement. The central government today said India's death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic has risen to 1,152, with a total of 35,365 cases across the country. The MHA has also issued new guidelines to regulate different activities in this lockdown period, based on the risk profiling of the districts of the country into Red (hotspot), Green and Orange Zones. The guidelines have permitted considerable relaxations in the districts falling in the Green and Orange Zones.
The government today said 1,993 fresh cases of coronavirus were reported from across India in the space of 24 hours, taking the total number to 35,043 cases and the death toll to 1,147. "564 recoveries have happened in 24 hours. The recovery rate is 25.37%," said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. "Districts have been divided into three zones and concentrated efforts are being made to break the chain of transmission."
Buses Can Operate With Not More Than 50% Seating in Green Zones |
In the Green Zones, all activities are permitted except the limited number of activities which are prohibited throughout the country, irrespective of the Zone. However buses can operate with upto 50% seating capacity and bus depots can operate with upto 50% capacity.
Liquor and Paan Shops to be Allowed in Green Zones |
Liquor stores and paan shops will be allowed to function in green zones while ensuring minimum six feet distance from each other and ensuring that not more 5 persons are present at one time at the shop: MHA.
Activities Allowed in Red Zones With Restrictions
Certain activities have been allowed in Red Zones, but with restrictions:
- Construction activities in urban areas have been limited to in-situ construction and construction of renewable energy projects.
- All standalone (single) shops, neighborhood (colony) shops and shops in residential complexes are permitted to remain open in urban areas, without any distinction of essential and non-essential.
-E-Commerce activities, in the Red Zones, are permitted only in respect of essential goods.
- Private offices can operate with upto 33% strength as per requirement, with the remaining persons working from home.
Activities Allowed in Red Zones With Restrictions
Certain activities have been allowed in Red Zones, but with restrictions:
- Movement of individuals and vehicles is allowed only for permitted activities, with a maximum of 2 persons (besides the driver) in four-wheeler vehicles, and with no pillion rider in the case of two-wheelers.
- Industrial establishments in urban areas in Special Economic Zones , Export Oriented Units, industrial estates and industrial townships with access control have been permitted.
- Manufacturing units of essential goods, including drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, their raw material and intermediates; production units, which require continuous process, and their supply chain.
Elderly People, Children, and Pregnant Women to Stay at Home
In all zones, persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, shall stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes.
Movement of People to be Restricted Between 7am and 7pm
Movement of individuals, for all non-essential activities, shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm to 7 am. Local authorities shall issue orders under appropriate provisions of law, such as prohibitory orders [curfew] under Section 144 of CrPC, for this purpose, and ensure strict compliance.
Containment Zones
Containment zones will be defined by District Administrations, taking into account the total number of active cases, their geographical spread, and the need to have well demarcated perimeters from the enforcement point of view. The local authority shall ensure 100% coverage of Aarogya Setu app in Containment Zones and have intensified surveillance protocols. No movement of people in and out of these Zones should be ensured, except for medical emergencies, and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services.
Districts With More Than 1 Municipal Corporation to Classified into 2 Zones
A number of districts have one or more Municipal Corporations. Due to higher population density within the Municipal Corporations, and consequent greater inter-mixing of people, the incidence of COVID-19 within their boundaries is higher than in the rest of the district. Now, such districts will be classified into two Zones, i.e., one Zone for the area under the boundary of the Municipal Corporation and, another for the area falling outside the boundary.
Criteria for Identifying Zones
Identification of districts as Red, Green and Orange Zones have been spelt out in detail in the letter issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
-Green Zones will be districts with either zero confirmed cases till date; or, no confirmed case in the last 21 days.
-Red Zones will be classified as such according to 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.
New Guidelines
After a review of the COVID-19 situation in the country, the Centre extended the lockdown by a further two weeks. In the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the ministry laid down guidelines to be followed in different zones across the country - Red, Orange and Green - depending on the risk profiling of various districts.
MNREGA, Industrial & Construction in Rural Areas Permitted
A large number of other activities are allowed in the Red Zones. All industrial and construction activities in rural areas, including MNREGA works, food-processing units and brick-kilns are permitted: MHA on the extension of lockdown.
The government today said 1,993 fresh cases of coronavirus were reported from across India in the space of 24 hours, taking the total number to 35,043 cases and the death toll to 1,147. "564 recoveries have happened in 24 hours. The recovery rate is 25.37%," said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. "Districts have been divided into three zones and concentrated efforts are being made to break the chain of transmission."
Buses Can Operate With Not More Than 50% Seating in Green Zones |
In the Green Zones, all activities are permitted except the limited number of activities which are prohibited throughout the country, irrespective of the Zone. However buses can operate with upto 50% seating capacity and bus depots can operate with upto 50% capacity.
Liquor and Paan Shops to be Allowed in Green Zones |
Liquor stores and paan shops will be allowed to function in green zones while ensuring minimum six feet distance from each other and ensuring that not more 5 persons are present at one time at the shop: MHA.
Activities Allowed in Red Zones With Restrictions
Certain activities have been allowed in Red Zones, but with restrictions:
- Construction activities in urban areas have been limited to in-situ construction and construction of renewable energy projects.
- All standalone (single) shops, neighborhood (colony) shops and shops in residential complexes are permitted to remain open in urban areas, without any distinction of essential and non-essential.
-E-Commerce activities, in the Red Zones, are permitted only in respect of essential goods.
- Private offices can operate with upto 33% strength as per requirement, with the remaining persons working from home.
Activities Allowed in Red Zones With Restrictions
Certain activities have been allowed in Red Zones, but with restrictions:
- Movement of individuals and vehicles is allowed only for permitted activities, with a maximum of 2 persons (besides the driver) in four-wheeler vehicles, and with no pillion rider in the case of two-wheelers.
- Industrial establishments in urban areas in Special Economic Zones , Export Oriented Units, industrial estates and industrial townships with access control have been permitted.
- Manufacturing units of essential goods, including drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, their raw material and intermediates; production units, which require continuous process, and their supply chain.
OPDs, Clinics Not Allowed to Function in Containment Zones
OPDs and medical clinics shall be permitted to operate in Red, Orange and Green Zones, with social distancing norms and other safety precautions. However, these will not be permitted within the Containment Zones.
OPDs and medical clinics shall be permitted to operate in Red, Orange and Green Zones, with social distancing norms and other safety precautions. However, these will not be permitted within the Containment Zones.
Elderly People, Children, and Pregnant Women to Stay at Home
In all zones, persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, shall stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes.
Movement of People to be Restricted Between 7am and 7pm
Movement of individuals, for all non-essential activities, shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm to 7 am. Local authorities shall issue orders under appropriate provisions of law, such as prohibitory orders [curfew] under Section 144 of CrPC, for this purpose, and ensure strict compliance.
States Can Identify 'Clean Zones'
States will be allowed to decide if in a particular district there is a clean zone. Health ministry says this will be left to discretion of states, and will be applicable in districts with a mix of rural and urban population. If urban clusters are Red Zone and rural in the same district doesn’t have a case, the state can treat the rural cluster in the same district as an Orange Zone.
States will be allowed to decide if in a particular district there is a clean zone. Health ministry says this will be left to discretion of states, and will be applicable in districts with a mix of rural and urban population. If urban clusters are Red Zone and rural in the same district doesn’t have a case, the state can treat the rural cluster in the same district as an Orange Zone.
Containment Zones
Containment zones will be defined by District Administrations, taking into account the total number of active cases, their geographical spread, and the need to have well demarcated perimeters from the enforcement point of view. The local authority shall ensure 100% coverage of Aarogya Setu app in Containment Zones and have intensified surveillance protocols. No movement of people in and out of these Zones should be ensured, except for medical emergencies, and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services.
Districts With More Than 1 Municipal Corporation to Classified into 2 Zones
A number of districts have one or more Municipal Corporations. Due to higher population density within the Municipal Corporations, and consequent greater inter-mixing of people, the incidence of COVID-19 within their boundaries is higher than in the rest of the district. Now, such districts will be classified into two Zones, i.e., one Zone for the area under the boundary of the Municipal Corporation and, another for the area falling outside the boundary.
Criteria for Identifying Zones
Identification of districts as Red, Green and Orange Zones have been spelt out in detail in the letter issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
-Green Zones will be districts with either zero confirmed cases till date; or, no confirmed case in the last 21 days.
-Red Zones will be classified as such according to 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.
New Guidelines
After a review of the COVID-19 situation in the country, the Centre extended the lockdown by a further two weeks. In the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the ministry laid down guidelines to be followed in different zones across the country - Red, Orange and Green - depending on the risk profiling of various districts.
E-commerce of Non-essential Items in Green & Orange Zones
E-commerce of non-essential items has been permitted in Green and Orange zones. Inter-state travel for permitted activities and taxis and cab aggregators with one passenger and driver in Orange Zones will be allowed.
E-commerce of non-essential items has been permitted in Green and Orange zones. Inter-state travel for permitted activities and taxis and cab aggregators with one passenger and driver in Orange Zones will be allowed.
Inter-state Movement for Permitted Activities in Orange Zone
In Orange Zones, inter-district movement of individuals & vehicles will be allowed for permitted activities only. Four-wheelers will have a maximum of 2 passengers besides the driver & pillion riding will be allowed on two-wheelers: Ministry of Home Affairs.
In Orange Zones, inter-district movement of individuals & vehicles will be allowed for permitted activities only. Four-wheelers will have a maximum of 2 passengers besides the driver & pillion riding will be allowed on two-wheelers: Ministry of Home Affairs.
In Orange Zones, in addition to activities permitted in Red Zone, taxis and cab aggregators will be permitted with 1 driver and 1 passenger only: MHA on extension of lockdown beyond May 4.
MNREGA, Industrial & Construction in Rural Areas Permitted
A large number of other activities are allowed in the Red Zones. All industrial and construction activities in rural areas, including MNREGA works, food-processing units and brick-kilns are permitted: MHA on the extension of lockdown.
