LOCKDOWN EXTENDED IN INDIA TILL MAY 31,CENTRE ISSUED REVISED GUIDELINES

Bureau,Odishabarta

Bhubaneswar: The Union Government on Sunday extended the nation-wide lockdown as part of its strategy to contain the spread of COVID-19 by another two weeks till May 31.

The decision of lockdown extension is based on the suggestions made by several State governments. Chief Ministers of different States during the video-conferencing meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also suggested plans for exit from lockdown in a phased manner so as to revive the economy.

MHA directed the States to decided the zones; Red, Green and Orange, taking into consideration the parameters shared by the Health Ministry. Moreover, the “zones can be a district, or a municipal corporation/municipality or even smaller administrative units such as sub-divisions, as decided by states and UTs.”

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,” the guidelines added.

The government further said there would be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance and other clinical interventions in the Containment Zones.As per the MHA guidelines, these following activities will be prohibited throughout the country.

All domestic and international air travel of passengers, except for domestic medical services, domestic air ambulance and for security purposes or purposes permitted by MHA, Metro Rail Services,Schools, Colleges, educational institutions, training and coaching centres will remain closed. Online and distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged,Hotels restaurants and other hospitality services except those meant for housing, health, police, government officials, health workers, stranded persons and 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.

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