As India grapples with the unprecedented second wave of Covid-19, various states have extended the ongoing lockdown to contain the spread of deadly virus.
States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Bihar and Goa have extended the Covid induced lockdown or other restrictions for a week till June 7, while some of them like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh have announced certain relaxation in the curbs.
Kerala
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday announced the extension of the shutdown till June 9. As per the new lockdown guidelines, some concessions will be given to perform essential activities. All industrial establishments can function with minimum employees not exceeding 50 per cent of total strength. Banks will remain open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with extended timings till 5 pm. Stationery shops, shops selling textiles for weddings, jewellery and footwear will be open till 5 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Delhi
The Delhi Government on Saturday extended the coronavirus-induced lockdown by another week, till June 7. The manufacturing and construction activities, however, will be permitted to resume from Monday with certain conditions.
In a fresh order issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, the companies that resume business will need to stagger working hours and lunch breaks and sanitise their premises. Random testing will be done regularly at manufacturing units and construction sites by the authorities, the order said.
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday announced relaxations in the ongoing Covid lockdown across 55 districts where the number of active coronavirus cases has fallen below the 600-mark from June 1. However, the lockdown will continue in 20 districts including state capital Lucknow, Noida and Greater Noida that fall under the Gautam Buddha Nagar district, as well as in Ghaziabad as they continue to report a high number of Covid infections daily.
Karnataka
The Karnataka government has extended the statewide lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 till 6am on June 7. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the restrictions will be eased only when the infections reduce. For example, in Delhi the cases are about 1,000 a day. In Bengaluru, the number should come below 1,000 a day and in Karnataka it should be limited to just 2,000 to 3,000. Then only the government will consider easing the lockdown, the minister added.
Goa
The government of Goa has decided to extend the Covid-19 curfew till 7am of June 7. Government of Goa has decided to extend the curfew till 7 am of 7th June 2021, tweeted Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant.
Stores selling essential items, grocery shops, liquor stores are allowed to stay open from 7 am to 1 pm during the period of the curfew. Medical stores and restaurant kitchens are allowed to function from 7 am to 7 pm during the curfew period.
Bihar
The Bihar government has extended the ongoing corona indused lockdown in the state till June 8. However, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced additional relaxation for business activities.
In view of the corona infection, it has been decided to extend the lockdown by one week i.e. till June 8, 2021. But an additional discount is being given for business. Everyone should wear masks and maintain social distance, the chief minister said in a post on Twitter.
Earlier, the lockdown was imposed in Bihar on May 5 for 11 days. Buoyed by the positive outcome, the Nitish Kumar government has been extending it every week since May 13.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has announced the extension of state-wide lockdown without relaxations to help break the chain of Covid-19 transmission. The lockdown has been extended till June 7 by one more week. Shops have been instructed to not carry out direct sales and violations will attract strict action.Grocery stores (both large format or supermarkets and local stores) shall be allowed to arrange for home delivery through pushcarts and vehicles-on-demand.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced the extension of Covid-19 lockdown till June 15 for corporations of Mumbai, Pimpri Chinchwad, Nashik, Vasai Virar, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Thane – all civic bodies with more than one million population.
All essential shops that are currently allowed to operate between 7-11 am may be allowed to operate between 7 am to 2 pm. Delivery of non-essential items along with essential items through e-commerce may be allowed in such districts.
Post 3 pm, there shall be restrictions on movement except for medical and other emergencies.
All govt offices, except those involved directly for Covid work in the said districts can function with 25% attendance. Agriculture sector related shops may remain open till 2pm on weekdays.
Himachal Pradesh
The Himachal Pradesh government extended the coronavirus curbs till June 7 on Friday but announced relaxations, including increase in the opening hours of shops, an official spokesperson said. Shops and other establishments will be allowed to open from Monday to Friday for five hours from 9 am to 2 pm. It was decided that government offices would also function with 30 per cent attendance.
Madhya Pradesh
As Covid-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh are decreasing, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday night issued fresh coronavirus guidelines, allowing the beginning of unlocking of the ‘corona curfew’ restrictions from June 1.
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Speaking to reporters, CM Chouhan had stated that though the Madhya Pradesh
government has approved a phase-wise unlocking of the corona curfew restrictions, the weekend lockdown will continue to be in force across the state. There will be separate sets of unlocking guidelines for the places having the COVID-19 positivity rate above five per cent and below 5 percent.
