Lockdown 3.0 begins tomorrow with ‘considerable relaxations’; some curbs to continue

The third phase of the countrywide lockdown will begin on Monday with “considerable relaxations”, but curbs will continue in containment areas so that the gains achieved so far in the fight against Covid-19 are not “squandered away”, officials said Sunday.

The extended lockdown is slated to last till May 17.

The country has been divided in three zones — Red, Orange and Green — based on coronavirus risk-profiling. According to the Home Ministry, activities prohibited throughout the country, irrespective of the zones, are: air, rail, metro travel; inter-state movement by road; schools, colleges, and other educational, training and coaching institutions; hospitality services, including hotels and restaurants.

Places of large public gatherings like those of cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes; social, political, cultural and other kinds of gatherings; and religious or public worship places are prohibited. However, movement of individuals for non-essential activities in all zones, barring containment areas, is allowed but strictly between 7 AM and 7 PM.

What’s open?

Barber shops, spas and salons in Green and Orange zones is allowed to open, as is the sale of non-essential items by e-commerce firms. Sale of liquor will be allowed with certain conditions in all zones, barring containment area, in standalone shops, not in markets or malls.

In all liquor shops, customers will have to maintain a minimum six-feet distance, and no more than five persons allowed at one time.

These operations were not allowed during the first two phases of lockdown, when sale of non-essentials by e-commerce companies was also not allowed.

The list of permitted activities also include: OPDs and medical clinics in all zones with social distancing norms and other precautions. However, these will not be permitted in containment zones.

All goods traffic will be permitted and no state or UT shall stop the movement of cargo for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries.

Movement restricted

In all zones, persons above 65 years of age, those with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and children below 10 years shall stay at home, except for essential and health purposes.

The movement of people by air, rail and road is allowed for select purposes, and for purposes as permitted by the MHA. In containment areas, movements of people is totally banned and essential services are delivered at the doorsteps.

Restrictions in Red zones

In Red zones (outside the containment areas), some additional activities are prohibited: plying of cycle rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, taxis and cab-aggregators; intra-district and inter-district buses, barber shops, spas and saloons.

Certain other activities have been allowed in the Red zone with restrictions: Movement of individuals and vehicles for permitted activities with a maximum of 2 persons (besides the driver) in four-wheelers, no pillion rider on two-wheelers.

In Red zones, e-commerce companies are allowed to sell only essential commodities. Barber shops and salons are not allowed to open.

On domestic helps in red zones, resident welfare associations should take a call on allowing in outsiders.

If allowed by RWAs, health protocols have to be maintained by the domestic helps and employers, and the responsibility lies with the employer, in case of any mishappening.

Industrial establishments in urban areas, like Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Export Oriented Units (EOUs), industrial estates and industrial townships with access control have been permitted from Monday in all zones, except containment areas.

Private offices can operate in red zones with up to 33 per cent strength with the remaining persons working from home.

Other activities allowed outside containment areas of a Red Zone (with restrictions) in urban areas are: manufacturing of essential goods like drugs, medical devices and their supply chain, manufacturing of IT hardware, jute industry, construction (if workers residing on site).

Operations of homes for senior citizens, children, destitute etc., government offices, and emergency, health, sanitation and security services.

Restrictions in Orange zones

In Orange zones, all activities permitted in red zone (outside containment zone) and taxi and cab aggregators (driver with 2 passengers only) are allowed.

Inter-district movement of people and vehicles for permitted activities, 4 wheelers with 2 passengers besides driver, pillion riding on 2 wheelers are allowed. However, inter and intra-district movements of buses, except those permitted by the MHA, is prohibited.

Restrictions in Green zones

In Green zones, all activities are permitted except the ones prohibited throughout the country, irrespective of the zone. However, buses can operate with up to 50 per cent seating capacity and depots too at 50 per cent.

In rural areas, industrial and construction activities; agriculture, animal husbandry and plantation, financial sector including banks, NBFCs, public utilities, courier and postal services; media; IT, ITeS, warehouses services by self-employed persons, except barbers.

States and U/Ts may put certain restrictions based on their assessment.

A district is considered in ‘Green’ zone if there are no confirmed cases so far or there has been no reported case for the past 21 days.

According to the Union Health Ministry, as on Friday, there were 130 ‘Red’ zones, maximum of 19 in UP, followed by 14 in Maharashtra. The number of ‘Orange’ Zones was 284 and ‘Green’ was 319. All the districts of the national capital have been put under ‘Red’ zone.

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