The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday issued 15 pages revised guidelines on the measures to be taken by the Ministries and departments of all the governments for containment of COVID-19 in the country.
These guidelines were issued a day after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday declared extension of lockdown till 3rd of May. The detailed guidelines provided relief to various sectors to restart their economic activity and at the same time continued earlier restrictions on activities.
The air travel of passengers by both domestic and international airlines; railways, bus transport, metro rail services are prohibited till 3rd of May. Similarly, functioning of industrial units, hospitality services, taxis, cinema halls, social, political, cultural, religious activities are also prohibited.
In all the listed prohibitions, the government has also provided for few select permitted activities which will come into effect from 20th of May. They are as follows:-
- All health services including hospitals, clinics telemedicine facilities, dispensaries, nursing homes, chemist, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and Medical laboratories.
- Farming activities, procurement agencies, Mandis operated by Agriculture Produce Market Committees, Manufacturing & retail of fertilisers.
- RBI and regulated markets, Bank branches and ATMs, SEBI, IRDA and insurance companies.
- All educational, training and coaching centres through online platforms only.
- Shops and carts, hygiene items, fruits and vegetables, milk booths, poultry and fish.
- Print and electronic media, data and call centres.
- Courier services.
- Food processing industries, oil refineries, coal production and mines.
- Construction of infrastructure projects.
These sectors are permitted to restart their activities from 20th of April, as the demand from the same came from many economists and corporate to allow them to carry on their activities so that the economy of the country should be able to keep upin these challenging times.
Along with, these permits to selected activities the Ministry of Home affairs has also issued National Directives for COVID-19 Management which prescribes a lists of Do’s and Don’ts for the public. These directives shall be enforced by the District Magistrate and on violation by any member of public the fines and penal action as prescribed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 shall be undertaken.
Do’s-
- Wearing of face cover is compulsory in all public places and workplaces.
- In-charge of public places, work places and transport to ensure social distancing.
- All organisations to sanitize their workplace between shifts.
- Intensive communication and training on good hygiene practices shall be taken up.
- Frequent cleaning of common surfaces and mandatory hand washing shall be mandated.
Don’ts-
- No organisation shall allow gathering of 5 or more persons.
- Strict ban on sale of liquor, tobacco and gutkhas and spitting in public places is prohibited.
- No overlap of shifts and large meetings to be prohibited.
- Total ban on non-essential visitors at sites.
- Not more than 2-4 persons will be allowed to travel in lifts and elevators.
These guidelines are required to be followed strictly by everyone only then the spread of contagious COVID-19 can be reduced. The country is already witnessing a spike in the number of infected persons and strict adherence to the guidelines is the only protective measure against the disease said the Government.
-India Legal Bureau