INDIA: As India enters Lockdown 3.0 on Monday, States are playing an active role in deciding the strategy, revising guidelines and drawing their own plan with some relaxation to bring normalcy amid coronavirus outbreak.
As the country observes the first day of the extended lockdown, here’s what the situation like across various cities in India.
The national capital Delhi, being in the Red Zone with the third highest number of Coronavirus cases has faced a huge surge in cases. However, the number of deaths has been in control to some extent.
“I believe enforcing the lockdown was very essential at that point (last week of March). Had it not been implemented, the country would have faced serious consequences. However, after 1.5 months, at least in Delhi, we are fully prepared to lift the restrictions,” the CM said during a webcast.
With the economy at stake and the nature of the virus, it is impossible to predict the feasibility of lockdown for a longer period of time. However, it was important to prepare ourselves to continue our life with the safety measures against the virus.
The CM further added, “We will now have to learn to live with corona. Both governments and the people need to prepare themselves for it. If lockdown is lifted, there will be some rise in cases, but we are ready to tackle that. We have told the Centre that the containment zones should be kept under lockdown and the rest of the city should be thrown open,”
Following the Centre’s guidelines, safety measures, the relaxations as well as restrictions in the Red Zone, Delhi is set to start various activities & services in the city in the areas outside the containment zones.
Maharashtra with the highest number of cases and deaths in the country falls in the red zone. However, from today the shops selling non-essential commodities, including liquor, are allowed to open in the COVID-19 non-containment zones. However, to prevent any further spread of the Coronavirus infection, five districts in the state including Solapur, Aurangabad, Jalna, Buldhana and Amravati have decided not to permit liquor sale.
Other states too have geared up to revitalize their economic state amid the on-going fight against the COVID-19 along with relaxations and restrictions. The state governments have issued orders chalking out the plan for the authorities as well as the public to manage the present situation in states across the country.
Bhaskar Rao, the Police Commissioner of Bengaluru City, informed them that there was no further need of any pass to move out in Bengaluru between 7am and 7pm. Through a tweet he urged the citizens to be responsible and move out of their houses only for essentials & medical needs after 7pm and upto 7am as checkpoints will remain open and ID may be asked on the violation.
Rajasthan Government has issued guidelines to be followed during lockdown which says that masks need to be worn compulsorily at all workplaces as well as public spaces. It has asked the shopkeepers not to sell to a person found without a mask. The order has banned the sale of gutka, paan and tobacco in the state further stating that no person should spit in public places. The order has instructed that no marriage related function should be held without informing the sub-divisional magistrate and that no more than 50 persons can attend such a ceremony. It also stipulated that no more than 20 persons could attend last rites and said that social distancing should be followed at all times. Lastly, it said that consumption of liquor was prohibited in public places.
In an order issued by the Uttar Pradesh administration it is stated that, “No organization/ manager will be allowed to call a meeting of five or more than five people. Not more than 50 people will be allowed during wedding events, and not more than 20 at funerals during the lockdown period and social distancing has to be followed even during these events. Strict action will be taken against anyone who violates the restriction orders under the Indian Penal Code section 188.”
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Ashutosh Dwivedi stated that Section 144 has been extended in Gautam Buddh Nagar, UP till May 17. He further added that during this period, political, religious, social or cultural gatherings will not be allowed, and protest rallies etc will remain banned. All places of worship will remain closed. People will not be allowed to gather outdoors on streets or in lanes and a two-yard distance should be maintained by those out.
The Chief Secretary of Haryana, Keshni Anand Arora while giving directions regarding lockdown 3.0 to all the deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and other senior officers said that a curfew will be imposed in Haryana from 7 pm to 7 am with effect from Monday. She warned the officers that their districts will be reviewed every week by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. And in case of guidelines being violated in areas declared as red zones, all supplies except the supply of essential goods will be restricted and all permissions (pertaining to relaxations) will cease with immediate effect. She further directed the officers concerned to ensure that the guidelines of the MHA are followed while starting the industrial units.
Chandigarh administration has issued an order stating that the neighbourhood shops in Chandigarh will remain open from 10 am to 6 pm on an odd-even basis from Sunday, with even numbered shops opening on 4 May while those with odd numbers on 5 May. However, malls, market complexes and big shops will remain closed.
“There will be strict emphasis on implementation of social distancing norms and other precautions. Milk, vegetables, fruits and chemists are exempted from these timings,” the UT order further said.
According to Himanta Biswa Sarma, State Minister of Assam, barber shops, saloons will remain closed however, home visits of barbers would be allowed after following hygiene and sanitisation norms in Assam from today.
With the jump in the number of positive cases, Leh district has been designated as a Red zone and therefore restrictions announced by the Home Ministry would be followed rigorously there too.
Twenty people have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Ladakh over the past two days, taking the total tally of cases reported in the Union Territory to 42. Among the new cases, 18 have been reported from Leh, 16 of which are from the Chuchot Yokma area, which has already been declared a containment zone