Coronavirus lockdown: Government issues detailed list of directives for Covid-19 management

The central government on Wednesday put out a comprehensive list of instructions for coronavirus management, making face covers compulsory at work and in public places, and announcing bans on spitting and selling tobacco and alcohol. Coronavirus is the fatal respiratory diseases caused by the SARS-CoV-2.

These new directives are being implemented during an extended lockdown slated to remain in force till 3rd March.

Guidelines during the lockdown:

1. A strict ban has been imposed on the sale of tobacco, gutka and liquor during the lockdown period. Spitting has been made a punishable offence.

2. The government has allowed industries functioning in rural areas, that is outside municipal areas, to resume operations from April 30 but with strict social distancing norms.

3. Gatherings of funerals and marriages will be monitored and regulated by the District Magistrate.

4. Manufacturing and industrial establishments functioning in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and Export Oriented Units (EOU), industrial estates and industrial townships have been allowed to resume operations after April 20. These establishments will have to make arrangements for the stay and transport of its workers as per requirements.

5. Manufacturing units producing essential goods such as drugs, medicines etc have been allowed to function.

6. All educational, training institution etc shall remain closed, taxis (including auto and cycle rickshaws) and services of cab aggregators to remain prohibited until May 3. Cinema halls, malls, shopping/sports complexes, gyms, swimming pools, theaters, bars etc to remain closed till May 3.

7. Wearing of face cover is compulsory in all public places, workplaces. Spitting in public places shall be punishable with fine.

8. Work spaces have been asked to conduct screening of all employees and maintain a gap of 1 hour in between shifts and stagger lunch breaks etc.

9. All international, domestic flights remain suspended till May 3. All train services will also remain suspended.

10. All social, political, sports, religious functions, religious places, places of worship shall be closed for public till May 3.

11. From April 20, when there will be some relaxations in areas that are not coronavirus hotspots, activities will be permitted, including agricultural, horticultural, farming, procurement of agri products, 'mandis'.

12. Shops of farm machinery, its spare parts, supply chain, repairs, 'Custom Hiring Centres' related to machinery to remain open from Apr 20.

13. Highway 'dhabas', truck repairing shops, call centres for governmentt activities to remain open from April 20.

14. Grocery stores, fruit, v8egetables shops or carts, milk booths, poultry, meat and fish shops to remain open during lockdown.

15. Services provided by self-employed electricians, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics, carpenters to be allowed from April 20.

Also Read: Coronavirus: Wearing masks now compulsory in Vadodara, violators to pay fines

16. Exemptions given from April 20 will not be applicable in COVID-19 hotspots or containment zones.

17. MNREGA works are allowed with strict implementation of social distancing and use of face masks.

18. Bank branches and ATMs, IT vendors for banking operations, banking correspondents, ATM operation and cash management agencies to remain functional.

19. All agricultural and horticultural activities to remain fully functional, such as farming operations by farmers and farm workers in field, agencies engaged in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP operations.

20. List of all hospitals and medical facilities dealing with COVID-19 shall be put up at all work places.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi prolonged the nationwide lockdown in a televised address on Tuesday. The lockdown that began on 25th March will now go on till 3rd May as number of Covid-19 cases in the country surpassed 11,000 on Wednesday.

The nationwide lockdown is intended to curb the spread of the coronaviirus that has claimed over 370 lives and infected more than 11,000 people in India.