NewGate Press Network
Unlike on the two previous occasions when ‘lockdowns’ were announced with proper announcements and fanfare, news about Lockdown 3.0 came-in rather quietly, via a press release on the internet.
It is clear. Life in the third phase of country wide lockdown, commencing from 4 May, will be different.
And for the first time, a concept of night curfew for ordinary citizens (except involved in essential services) will be implemented with impunity between 7 pm to 7 am.
Main takeaways from new MHA guidelines are:
- Face masks are compulsory.
- Aarogya Setu app is a must.
- Liquor shops are back in operations – but only in Green and Orange zones.
- Private offices can operate with up to 33% strength, with the rest on Work-From-Home.
- Those senior citizens above 65 years with co-morbidity, pregnant women and children below 10 will advised to stay back home unless during an emergency situation.
- Any fake call for emergency or asking for bogus relief will attract one year jail term.
- No travel allowed by air, rail or metro trains. However it will be allowed when MHA gives permission.
- Inter-state movement by road will remain banned.
- Schools, colleges, hotels, restaurants; cinemas, malls, shopping centres, gyms and sports complexes will also stay shut.
- Gatherings allowed for social, political, cultural and religious purposes.
- In red zones, cars with two persons allowed.
- On two-wheelers – only rider will be allowed. No pillion riding in Red Zone.
- Single shops can open in urban areas, whether for essential or non-essential goods. e-Commerce will be allowed for essential goods.
- Banks, public services such as power supply systems, water, sanitation, waste management, telecommunications and internet will remain open.
- Courier and postal services will be allowed to operate.
- Media, IT and IT-enabled services, data and call centres, cold storage and warehousing services, private security, plumbers and electricians will be allowed.
- Barber shops/salons strictly prohibited.
- In the orange zones, taxis and cab aggregators will be allowed to operate with one passenger.
- In Orange Zones – cars can have two passengers besides the driver and pillion riding will be allowed on two-wheelers.
- In the Green Zones, all activities will reopen except those banned across the country. But in these areas, buses can operate only with half the seating capacity.
