NATIONWIDE LOCKDOWN extended for 2 weeks from MAY 4: Passenger trains, metro railways, air and inter-state bus services will remain suspended

After a comprehensive review, and in view of the Lockdown measures which have led to significant gains in the COVID-19 situation in the country, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, today, to further extend the Lockdown for 2 weeks beyond May 4, 2020. The limited lockdown, including suspension of inter-state travel, air and train services, will continue to remain in force for another two weeks throughout the country from May 4. But some activities would be allowed after classifying areas into Red, Orange and Green zones. The running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training hospitality services, cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes will remain prohibited. All social, political, cultural and other kinds of gatherings and religious places or places of worship for the public will also remain shut, the order said but added that movement of persons by air, rail and road is allowed for select purposes, and for purposes as permitted by the MHA. The government order, which announced the extension of the lockdown invoking the Disaster Management Act, said a limited number of activities will remain prohibited throughout the country, irrespective of the zone. MHA also issued new guidelines to regulate different activities during the period, based on the risk profiling of the districts of the country into Red (hotspot), Green and Orange Zones. The guidelines have permitted considerable relaxations in the districts falling in the Green and Orange Zones.2. The criteria for identification of districts as Red, Red, Green and Orange Zones have been spelt out in detail in the letter dated April 30, 2020, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Green-Zones will be districts with either zero confirmed cases till date; or, no confirmed case in the last 21 days. The classification of districts as Red Zones will take into account the total number of active cases, doubling rate of confirmed cases, the extent of testing and surveillance feedback from the districts. Those districts, which are neither defined as Red nor Green, shall be classified as Orange zones. The classification of districts into Red, Green and Orange Zones will be shared by MoHFW with the States and Union Territories on a weekly basis, or earlier, as required. While States and UTs can include additional districts as Red and Orange Zones, they may not lower the classification of Red, Green and Orange Zones have been as required. While States and UTs can include additional districts as Red and Orange Zones, they may not lower the classification. (image courtesy to ABP Live).