India Extends Coronavirus Lockdown for 2 Weeks

The Indian Government extended the national lockdown to deter the spread of the novel coronavirus for another two weeks or 14 days.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed on Friday the extension with a comprehensive guideline. This is in addition to the prolonged lockdown scheduled to end on 4 May, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to India Today, the decision to extend the lockdown was taken further after recognizing the danger profiling of different districts throughout the country. The MHA has also provided detailed guidance for the regulation of different economic activities during this period.

Still Prohibited:

According to the order of the MHA on Friday, following the designation of red, orange and green areas, such practices would remain prohibited. That involve air transport, train transportation, subway and road transport. Schools, universities, training / coaching centres and other educational facilities will still stay locked.

Orange Zones:

The Government has allowed such activities to take place in orange zones, excluding those approved in red zones. Taxis and taxi aggregators must be permitted to work in orange zones with just one driver and two passengers per vehicle. In turn, the inter-district travel of persons in orange zones will also be permitted for approved activities. Four-wheelers will be allowed to ply on roads with a maximum of two passengers along with pillion riding on two-wheelers, the MHA's order said.

Red Zones:

"A large number of other activities are allowed in the Red Zones," adds the MHA order. It identified these activities as all industrial and construction activities in rural areas, including MNREGA works, food processing units, and brick kilns. All agriculture activities in rural areas have also been exempted from the extended lockdown along with all shops, animal husbandry activities.

Green Zones:

E-commerce has now been permitted to restart operations and distribute non-essential products in green and orange zones. SEZ and export-oriented groups, along with manufacturing estates and manufacturing towns with access control, were also permitted to return to work.

Although inter-state and intra-state movements will continue to be limited, busses have been permitted to work in green zones with just 50% of their capacity. The same rule will be applicable to bus depots.