Lockdown 4.0: How Does the Current Scenario Looks Like in India?

While India has registered its single largest spike today in 24 hours with 5,242 new COVID-19 positive cases, according to an update from the Union Health Ministry on Monday. The death toll in the past 24 hours is 157.

Lockdown 4.0, which came into effect from today, i.e. May 18, will see shops and markets  — except those in malls —  opening, and autos, buses, and cabs operating within the State guidelines. E-commerce companies are allowed to deliver all goods, including those considered non-essential.

Though Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal stated Delhi’s detailed lockdown plan to be announced today, the Centre released its guidelines for Lockdown 4.0.

CM Kejriwal on Sunday admitted that the Centre’s guidelines for the fourth phase of the lockdown are largely in line with the proposal sent by the Delhi government. He said that the proposal was based on suggestions of lakhs of Delhiites.

India has entered into the fourth phase of lockdown from May 18 but with a different set of guidelines as was issued by the Home Ministry on Sunday. While several relaxations have been eased, including the inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses and opening of sports complexes and stadiums, schools, malls, and restaurants would remain shut, and suspension of flight and metro services would remain in force till May 31.

In the recent guidelines, the home ministry also allowed the resumption of app-based cab services; gave permission to the functioning of all shops, markets, and commercial establishments except those in malls; and eased curbs on private offices a bit that was previously allowed to function with 33% staff strength.

Here are a few guidelines to abide by during Lockdown 4.0 between May 18 and 31.

• Schools, coaching institutions and other educational institutions like colleges, malls to remain shut
• Flight and rail and metro services to remain suspended, except those allowed with special permits
• Buses, auto-rickshaws, cabs can operate; the inter-State movement of vehicles can be decided by States mutually
• All shops, except those in malls and containment zones, can open
• Barber shops and salons can operate
• Delivery of essential and non-essential items allowed through e-commerce platforms
• Restaurants can function, but only for take-away, dine-in still remains closed
• Religious, political gatherings are prohibited
• Weddings cannot have more than 50 guests and funerals not more than 20
• Cap on 33% strength in offices done away with, work from home to be encouraged; social distancing and staggered work hours to be followed in offices
• Wearing of masks compulsory in public places and at workplaces
• Night curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for non-essential services to remain in force
• States can decide the delineation of zones into red, green, orange and containment zones
• Vulnerable groups such as those above 65 years, pregnant women and children below 10 to remain at home

Classification of zones

States/Union Territories will now classify districts into red, orange and green zones while district authorities will demarcate containment and buffer zones as per the cases.

Green zone

In a letter dated April 30, 2020, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) had mentioned that the Green Zones will be districts with either zero confirmed cases till date; or, no such confirmed cases in past 21 days. 

Red zone

The total number of active cases, doubling rate of confirmed cases, the extent of testing, and surveillance feedback from the districts decide Red Zones.

Orange zone

The districts which are neither defined as Red nor Green, shall be classified as Orange zones and safe zone.

Buffer zone
The buffer zone, new zone added recently comprises of adjoining blocks of the affected district or rural districts of the affected city

Over to you

All necessary standard operating procedures which includes social distancing, wearing masks, availability of sanitizer continues to be compulsory as earlier.