Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday extended the nationwide lockdown for two more weeks till May 31 to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

The ministry has issued revised guidelines to be implemented from Monday and shall remain in force till May 31. Here are the activities that are prohibited and allowed to function during the 4th edition of the lockdown.

This is the fourth-time the lockdown has been imposed in the country, though, this time certain curbs have been relaxed in areas with limited virus infection to boost the economy. The order came hours before the lockdown 3.0 was to end on Sunday midnight.

Activities Prohibited

Air travel, metro rail services, restaurants, schools and colleges will be prohibited throughout the country.

All domestic and international air travel, except for domestic medical services, domestic air ambulance and for security purposes or purposes as permitted by MHA will be barred.

The Metro rail services, which were supported by the Delhi government, will also be banned as per the MHA.

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Schools, colleges, educational training and coaching institutions will remain closed. Online distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.

Hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services, except those meant for housing government officials/ healthcare workers/ stranded persons including tourists and for quarantine facilities and running of canteens at bus depots, railway stations and airports restaurants shall be permitted to operate kitchens for home delivery of food items.

All cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls.

Sports complexes and stadiums will be permitted to open, however, spectators will not be allowed.

All religious places or places of worship shall be closed for the public. Religious congregations are strictly prohibited.

The MHA also barred all social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other gatherings and large congregations.

Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years have also been directed to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes

Permitted Activities

The MHA has allowed a number of relaxations across the country for various economic activities except in the Containment Zones.

The ministry has allowed the inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, "with mutual consent of the state(s)/UTs) involved".

It also allowed the intra-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, as decided by states and UTs.

Delineation of Red, Orange, Green Zones to be decided by states

In a fresh set of guidelines for the next phase of the lockdown, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated, "The delineation of Red, Green and Orange Zones will be decided by the state and UT governments, after taking into consideration the parameters shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare."

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Within the Red and Orange Zones, Containment Zones and Buffer Zones will be demarcated by district authorities, after taking into consideration the guidelines of the Health Ministry.

In Containment Zones, only essential activities shall be allowed. There shall be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except medical emergencies and maintaining supply of essential goods and services.

Night Curfew To Continue

Movement of individuals will remain strictly prohibited between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m, except for essential activities.

Local authorities shall issue orders, in the entire area of their jurisdiction, under appropriate provisions of law, such as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC and ensure strict compliance.

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