COVID-19: MHA extends nationwide lockdown for two more weeks from May 4

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday extended the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus for a further period of two weeks beyond May 4. The current

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday extended the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus for a further period of two weeks beyond May 4. The current lockdown period is scheduled to end on May 3.

The Home Ministry has issued new guidelines to regulate activities during extended lockdown period based on risk profiling of districts into red, orange and green zones.

“After a comprehensive review and in view of the lockdown measures having led to significant gains, the COVID-19 situation in the country, Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, today, to further extend the lockdown for a further period of two weeks beyond May 4, 2020,” read the order of the Home Ministry.

MHA issues order under Disaster Management Act, 2005 to further extend the #Lockdown for a further period of two weeks beyond May 4. pic.twitter.com/w4d6fbpSfZ

— Northeast Live (@NELiveTV) May 1, 2020

In red zones and outside containment zones, certain activities including plying of cycle rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, taxis and cab aggregators, intra-district and inter-district plying of buses and barber shops, spas and salons will be prohibited in addition to those prohibited throughout India.

A large number of other activities are allowed in the Red Zones. All industrial and construction activities in rural areas, including MNREGA works, food-processing units and brick-kilns are permitted

In Orange Zones, in addition to activities permitted in Red Zone, taxis & cab aggregators will be permitted with 1 driver & 1 passenger only. Inter-district movement of individuals & vehicles will be allowed for permitted activities only. Four-wheelers will have a maximum of 2 passengers besides the driver & pillion riding will be allowed on two-wheelers.

A limited number of activities will remain prohibited across the country, irrespective of the zone, including travel by air, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road, running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/coaching institutions, the order said.

Those districts, which are neither defined as Red nor Green, are classified as Orange zones.

The number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 35,365 on Friday evening and the toll stood at 1,152.

The order comes hours after the Home Ministry allowed movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons by special trains.

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