On May 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the country and shared the news that Lockdown 4.0 will be in force from today on May 18. PM Modi also shared the fact that Lockdown 4.0 will be “practiced differently”. The lockdown will be extending till May 31 and the main aim is to bring the national economy back on track.
Yesterday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a notification letter to Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla. The letter shared the news to the central government and the state governments to practice the latest norms in extended lockdown 4.0
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Containment and Buffer Areas in Lockdown 4.0
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also asked states to decide on which districts will fall under red, orange, and green zones in lockdown 4.0. As per the new norms, the district authorities are ordered to identify ‘containment’ and ‘buffer’ areas within red and orange zones respectively.
Track of essential workforce
Under the impression of the new rules, all states and union territories have been ordered to keep track of their essential workforce including medical professionals, nurses, and paramedical staff along with sanitation personnel and ambulances.
Night Curfew from 7 pm to 7 am
Their inter-state and intra-state movement is also to be monitored and taken care of. Local authorities have been permitted to activate a prohibitory night curfew from 7 pm to 7 am. During this time, only the essential distribution of goods and services is to be allowed.
Also, trucking companies are allowed to move full and empty trucks in-between states to tackle the shortage of supply chains. Some of the other norms have also been ordered.
Here are the services will be allowed and what not during the lockdown 4.0 till May 31:
All domestic/international flights, except domestic air ambulance, have been canceled till May 31. Flight companies have been advised to shut off any advance travel bookings until further notice.
Rail Metro services are restricted until May 31. If necessary, a state can arrange special transport services such as buses and “Shramik Trains” for transportation of workers stuck in a separate state.
All institutional buildings including schools, colleges, and public libraries are to be kept closed as they were from March 25, till May 31. Further information regarding the state-wise examinations is to be shared.
Entertainment places including Malls, cinema halls, bars, swimming pools, auditoriums are to be closed. Sports complexes and stadiums have been allowed to reopen. But no spectators will be permitted to enter.
Local shops have been directed to ensure a minimum of 6-feet distance among customers. Also, they will have to restrict not more than five people inside a shop at one time.
Social gatherings, political rallies, or religious or cultural functions are prohibited until May 31. Places of worship are to be kept closed to avoid a state of rush.
Marriage ceremonies are to be restricted up to around 50 attendees. Funerals are to be done in the least rush condition with up to 20 peoples.
Senior citizens, pregnant women, and children below 10-years old are to be kept inside. Adults who are going out are ordered to wear necessary gears including masks (and gloves).
As of today on May 18, the number of COVID-19 cases in India rose to 96,169 while the toll went up to 3,029. India recorded the biggest single-day jump till now with over 5,242 new cases and 157 deaths in the past 24 hours.
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