The new lockdown guidelines from April 20 will be eased in non-hotspot areas as the government will allow select industries and economic activity after April 20 in areas least affected by the coronavirus contagion, to generate jobs for migrants and reduce the distress for those hardest hit by the prolonged lockdown. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the COVID-19 lockdown to May 3, guidelines have been issued to clarify what will be allowed in parts of the country after a week and what stays banned. Tough restrictions will remain in COVID-19 hotspots, or places where there are most number of coronavirus cases.
What will be allowed from April 20 during lockdown:
Agricultural and related activities
Select industrial activities
Digital economy
Transportation of goods, both essential and non-essential
Agriculture marketing
Manufacture, distribution, retail of fertilizers, pesticides, seeds
Fisheries; supply of milk, milk products, poultry, live-stock farming
Tea, coffee and rubber plantations
Food processing industries in rural areas
Construction of roads, irrigation projects, buildings, industrial projects in rural areas
Works under MNREGA, especially irrigation and water conservation works
Manufacturing, other industrial establishments with access control in SEZs, EoUs, industrial estates and industrial townships
Manufacture of IT hardware, of essential goods and packaging
Coal, mineral, oil production
RBI, banks, ATMs, capital and debt markets as notified by SEBI and insurance companies
E-commerce, IT and IT-enabled services, data and call centres
Online teaching and distance learning
Health services and social sector
Central, state governments, local bodies to remain open
What will not be allowed from April 20 during lockdown:
Travel by air, rail and road
Educational and training institutions
Industrial and commercial activities
Hospitality services
Cinema halls, theatres
Shopping complexes
Social, political and other events
Religious places, congregations
