India braces for lockdown phase 3

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decided to extend the nationwide lockdown, imposed to arrest the spread of coronavirus, for two more weeks starting from May 4.

The lockdown, which is in place since March 25, was set to end after completing 40 days on May 3.

Movement of individuals, for all non-essential activities, shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm to 7 am.

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.

The most sensitive areas in the red and orange zones are called "containment zones". The following remains prohibited: Travel by air, rail, metro and inter-State movement by road; Running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/ coaching institutions.

Hospitality services, including hotels and restaurants Places of large public gatherings, such as cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes etc have been prohibited; Social, political, cultural and other kinds of gatherings; Religious places/ places of worship for public.

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.

The government has lifted restrictions on all agriculture activities, including sowing, harvesting, procurement and marketing operations in the agricultural supply chain. Animal husbandry activities are now fully permitted, including inland and marine fisheries. All plantation activities are allowed, including their processing and marketing.

The government has allowed shops in urban areas, including standalone (single) shops, neighborhood (colony) shops and shops in residential complexes without any distinction of essential and non-essential.

Shops selling non-essential goods are prohibited in malls, markets and market complexes. E-Commerce activities, in the red zones, are permitted only in respect of essential goods.

A NGO distributes langar to migrant workers stranded in Ludhiana at Janata Nagar.