- Sunday, May 04, 2025
By: indiaweekly.biz Staff
Stringent containment measures will be implemented in the hotspot districts accounting for a large number of Covid-19 cases or those with fast growth of such cases, the Indian government said on Wednesday (15).
“Very strong containment measures will be implemented in the hotspot districts accounting for a large number of Covid-19 cases or with fast growth of cases,” a government statement on the guidelines said.
“Only essential services are to be permitted in these zones and strict perimeter control and strict restrictions on movement enforced.
“In these containment zones… there shall be strict perimeter control in the area of the containment zones to ensure that there is no unchecked inward/outward movement of population from these zones except for maintaining essential services (including medical emergencies and law and order related duties) and government business continuity.”
Hotspots’ — areas of large Covid-19 outbreaks — or clusters with significant spread of Covid-19 will be determined as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), the guidelines said.
Later, the health ministry declared 170 districts hotspots and identified 207 as non-hotspots.
In the hotspots, containment zones will be demarcated by states/union territories/district administration as per the guidelines of the health ministry, it said.
The guidelines stated that medical laboratories and collection centres, pharmaceutical and medical research labs, institutions carrying out Covid-19 related research, veterinary hospitals, dispensaries, clinics, pathology labs and sale and supply of vaccine and medicine will remain operational.
All health services, including AYUSH, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, telemedicine facilities, dispensaries, chemists, pharmacies as well as all kinds of medicine shops, Jan Aushadhi Kendras and medical equipment shops, will remain functional, according to the new guidelines issued by the Centre a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3.
Spitting in public has been made a punishable offence and a strict ban enforced on sale of liquor, gutka, tobacco etc. under the new Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines that come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3.
While inter-state, inter-district movement of people, metro, bus services will be prohibited till May 3, the government allowed function of industrial units located in rural areas from April 20 by observing strict social distancing norms.
Educational institutions, coaching centres, domestic, international air travel, train services will also remain suspended till this time, it said.
Public places like cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, bars will also be shut till May 3.
All social, political, sports, religious functions, religious places, places of worship shall be closed for public till May 3, it said.
Highway ‘dhaba’, truck repairing shops, call centres for govt activities to remain open from April 20.
Shops of agriculture machinery, its spare parts, its supply chain, repairs, ‘Custom Hiring Centres, related to farm machinery to remain open from April 20.
From April 20 activities permitted include agricultural, horticultural activities, farmers and farm workers in field, procurement of agri products, ‘Mandis’.
Manufacturing units of drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, construction of medical infrastructure including manufacture of ambulances to remain open from April 20.
The central government has made wearing of mask compulsory in public places across the country.
Grocery stores, fruits, vegetables shops/ carts, milk booths, poultry, meat and fish shop to remain open during lockdown.
Services provided by self-employed electrician, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics, carpenters will be allowed from April 20.
Industries operating in rural areas to be permitted to run from April 20 with strict social distancing norms.
Manufacturing, industrial units with access control in SEZs, Export Oriented Units, industrial estates, industrial townships to be allowed to function from April 20.
The home ministry said permitted industries must make arrangements for stay of workers within their premises or adjacent buildings by observing social distancing norms.
The guidelines said in order to mitigate hardship to the public, select additional activities will be allowed, which will come into effect from April 20.
