Lockdown 4.0 begins: Know what's allowed and what's not till May 31

New Delhi: It's official. India will continue to be under lockdown for two more weeks till May 31.

While announcing the fourth lockdown extension, hours before the third phase of lockdown was to expire, the home ministry said that the states may impose more restrictions but not dilute the guidelines. The ministry guidelines also says that all other activities which are not specifically prohibited can be allowed by the state.

Here's what's allowed and what's not:

• All domestic and international air travel not allowed (Domestic medical services, domestic air ambulance for security purposes or purposes permitted by MHA are allowed)

• Metro rail services not permitted

• Only Shramik Specials, other special trains, and parcel and freight services will operate during the period.

• Schools, colleges. educational/ training/ coaching institutions etc. will remain closed. Online/ distance learning shall continue to he permitted and shall be encouraged.

• Hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services will remain closed (Those meant for housing health/ police/ government officials, healthcare workers/ stranded persons including tourists and for quarantine facilities and running of canteens at bus depots, railway stations airports. Restaurants will be allowed to operate kitchen for home delivery of food items.

• All cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places. Sports complexes and stadia will be permitted to open, however, spectators will not be allowed.

• All social/ political/ sports entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions/ other gatherings and large congregations.

Permitted activities with restrictions (these are not applicable in Containment Zones)

• Inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, with mutual consent of the State/ UT(s) involved.

• Intra-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, as decided by the States and UTs.

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for movement of persons will continue.

Classification of Containment/ Buffer/ Red/ Green and Orange Zones

• The delineation of Red, Green and Orange Zones will be decided by the respective State and UT governments after taking into consideration the parameters shared by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

• Within the Red and Orange Zones, Containment Zones and Buffer Zones will be demarcated by the District authorities, after taking into consideration the guidelines of MoHFW.

• In the Containment Zones, only essential activities shall be allowed. There shall be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services.

• In the Containment Zones. there shall be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance, and other clinical interventions, as required.

Night curfew

The movement of individual shall remain strictly prohibited between 7.00pm to 7.00am, except for essential activities. Local authorities shall issue orders, in the entire area of their jurisdiction, under appropriate provisions of law, such as prohibitory orders (Curfew) under Section 144 of CrPC, and ensure strict compliance.

Protection of vulnerable persons

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 essential and health purposes.

All other activities will be permitted, except those which ere specifically prohibited. However in containment zones, only essential activities shall be allowed.

Use of Aarogya Setu app:

With a view to ensuring safety in offices and work places, employers on best effort basis should ensure that Aarogya Setu app is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones. Districts authorities may advised individuals to install the Aarogya Setu app on mobile phones and regularly update their health status on the app.

Movement of persons and goods:

• All States/UTs shall allow inter-state and intra-state movement of medical professionals, nurses and paramedical staff, sanitation personnel and ambulances, without any restriction.

• All States/UTs shall allow inter-state movement of all types of goods/cargo, including empty trucks.

• No State/ UT shall stop the movement of any type of good/ cargo for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries.

Enforcement of guidelines

• State/ UT governments shall not dilute these guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in any manner.

• States/UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain other activities in the various zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary.

• All the district magistrates shall strictly enforce the above measures

• The district magistrates, as Incident Commanders, will be responsible for the overall implementation of these measures in their respective jurisdictions.

Penalties

Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act 2005, besides legal action under Sec 188 of the IPC and another legal provisions as applicable.

The first phase of the lockdown was from March 24 to April 13. The second phase began on April 14 and ended on May 3, while the third phase, which began on May 4, is set to conclude on Sunday.

National directives for COVID 19 management

• Wearing of face cover is compulsory in all public and work places.

• Spitting in public & work places shall be punishable with fine, as may be prescribed in accordance with its laws, rules or regulations by the State/UT local authority.

• Social distancing shall be followed by all persons in public places and in transport.

• Marriage related gathering shall ensure social distancing, and the maximum number of guests allowed shall not be more than 50.

• Funeral/ last rites related gathering shall ensure social distancing, and the maximum numbers allowed shall not be more than 20.

• Consumption of liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco etc. in public places is not allowed.

• Shops will ensure minimum six feet distance among customers and shall not allow more than 5 persons at the shop.

Additional directives for work places

• As far as possible, the practice of work from home should be followed.

• Staggering of work/ business hours shall be followed in offices, work places, shops, markets and industrial & commercial establishments.

• Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash and sanitizes will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas.

• Frequent sanitization of entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact e.g. door handles etc., shall be ensured, including between shifts.

• All persons in charge of work places shall ensure social distancing through adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff, etc.

When the fourth phase ends, India will complete 69 days under lockdown.