The Indian government has extended its 40-day lockdown which was due to end on 3 May by another two weeks.
It will be the third extension since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide shutdown on the 25 March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a government order, the country has been graded into three zones – red, orange and green.
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Restrictions remain in place in Delhi, India
However, the extension beyond the 4 May will allow for some economic activity and movement of people according to zones.
The green zones, where there are no positive cases nor a confirmed case in the last 21 days, will resume all activity but with caution.
The red zones are those with active COVID-19 cases and takes into account the doubling rate of infection, extent of testing, surveillance and feedback from health workers. Some restrictions have been lifted to these 130 districts covering almost 33% of the population.
The orange zones are those which are neither defined as red or green. Here, some restrictions will remain in place with most economic activity permitted. About 572 million people, ie. 44% of the country’s population, fall in this category.
All the zones will be accessed and updated weekly.
Apart from these there are “containment zones” where very severe restrictions are in place because of a large amount of positive cases.
No one is allowed to enter or exit these zones except for health workers and designated officials. All essential services of food, water, milk and medicines are delivered at the doorstep.
All air, rail, metro and road travel will be suspended during the extension of the lockdown. Schools, colleges, institutions, hotels, restaurants, malls and cinema halls will remain closed. All public gatherings of any kind including religious or cultural ones are prohibited.
The lockdown has had a detrimental effect on the already declining economy. Even before the pandemic the country had witnessed record unemployment figures and almost every sector was besieged.
The auto industry has registered ‘zero’ sales in the month of April. An industry that sells 2.8 million cars, vans and SUVs every month have never experienced anything like it. According to the Society of Automobile Manufacturers the industry loses £245m each day the factories remain closed.
Those worst affected by the shutdown are daily wage earners, contract workers and migrant labour.
They form almost 81% of the country’s working population. They have had to go through many weeks with no work and earnings.
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The government has announced a number of relief measures including cash transfers and has set up thousands of relief camps where food and shelter is proed free for anyone in need.
Migrant workers have also been affected significantly. With a complete shutdown of public transport thousands have tried walking home hundreds of kilometres away.
The government has since yesterday started special trains to transport thousands of migrants across the country.
The government has announced a number of relief measures including cash transfers and has set up thousands of relief camps where food and shelter is proed free for anyone in need.
The government is very mindful of opening up the economy soon especially in rural areas as the country is in the midst of a harvesting and sowing season.
During this extension all agricultural, industrial, business and construction activity is permitted in rural areas.
Private business, manufacturing units and offices can start operations with certain restrictions in Red and Orange zones.
All non-essential activities is strictly prohibited from 7pm till 7am. Social distancing to be maintained at all times and wearing of masks in public is compulsory.
India has recorded more than 37,400 positive cases and 1218 deaths have been reported.
