Life After Lockdown: Brace Up for a Partial Lift in Lockdown

After a major panel discussion, Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal announced lockdown relaxations for the national capital. The total number of cases in Delhi has reached around 3,000 and the death toll remains at 54. The state government has released some relaxation rules amidst the lockdown.

Narendra Modi had extended the nationwide 21-days lockdown till 3rd May as the number of coronavirus cases kept on increasing at a fast pace. Some regions of the country were identified and marked as hotspots. These hotspots were completely sealed with limited movement and activity.

Partial Uplift: Need of the Hour

Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) released an order on 27th April regarding the uplift of the lockdown. The DDMA has reviewed the situation in Delhi and allowed some activities to resume. Health workers, lab technicians, and scientists are allowed to travel inter and intra-state, even by air if necessary. The relaxation has been announced until 3rd May.

Clinics, dispensaries, veterinary hospitals, and pathological laboratories can be opened up. The operation of shelter homes can be resumed and plumbers, electricians, and self-employed persons can start working. Shops have been ordered to open. These orders have been issued for non-contaminated zones. All shops in the contaminated zones will be sealed until further notice. Markets and malls will remain closed in Delhi.

Delhi’s Chief Minister Kejriwal Concluded

Kejriwal said, “We are going through difficult times. We will have to continue our efforts to reduce the number of COVID-19 infections in Delhi.” The Centre has laid down guidelines to open the neighbourhood and shops.

Guidelines Laid

Maharashtra remains the state with the highest number of COVID-19 patients. Some services such as farm-sector activities and dhabas along highways have been resumed in the state while adhering to the precautionary measures. Most districts in Uttar Pradesh have been denied relaxation in the lockdown rules. Gautam Buddha Nagar district administration has sealed Ghaziabad, Noida, and Greater Noida that fall under NCR regions. More than 19 districts in Uttar Pradesh will remain under complete lockdown.

Telangana has extended the state’s lockdown till May 7. Kerala has classified the districts into red, orange, and green zones. Respective orders have been released for each zone. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that construction, repairs, agriculture and labour work has been resumed in some districts. Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain fall under contaminated zones, and exceptions have been made for these cities.

Footnote

The country is taking measures to identify states with a high number of coronavirus cases. With limited restrictions, most states are finding precautionary ways to start uplift the nationwide lockdown.