Coronavirus Pandemic: Lockdown Extended for 2 Weeks Beyond May 4

The nationwide coronavirus lockdown which started on March 24, has been extended by two weeks. The Ministry of Home Affairs today issued an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to extend the nationwide lockdown beyond May 4.

In addition, the home ministry has also issued new guidelines to regulate different activities in this period, based on the risk profiling of the districts of the country into red (hotspot), green and orange zones. The government has stated that there will be considerable relaxations in the districts that fall under the Green and Orange Zones.

As per the new guidelines, there are a few activities that will remain banned throughout the country regardless of the zone. These include travel by air, rail, metro, and inter-state journey by road. Moreover, schools, colleges, and other educational and training/ coaching institutions will stay shut for the duration of the lockdown. Hospitality services, including hotels and restaurants, will also remain closed. Other than this, places that attract large public gatherings such as cinema halls, malls, gyms, and sports complexes will also stay shut during the extended lockdown.

In addition, the government has stated that it will not allow social, political, cultural, and other kinds of gatherings. This will also include places of worship.

The movement of people by air, rail, and road will only be allowed for special circumstances and for purposes permitted by the home ministry.

Previously, the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat stated that the police were “doing their job very well and they are deployed in the red zone. They are capable of undertaking actions in red zones also. No need has been felt for military deployment so far.”

India has over 35,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases now. The death toll from the outbreak in India has risen over 1,000.