OdishaPlus Bureau
The third phase of the countrywide lockdown began on Monday with “considerable relaxations”, but curbs will continue in containment areas so that the gains achieved so far in the fight against COVID-19 are not “squandered away”, officials said Sunday.
The country has been divided into three zones — Red, Orange, and Green – based on coronavirus risk-profiling. The extended lockdown is slated to last till May 17.
According to the Home Ministry, activities prohibited throughout the country, irrespective of the zones are air, rail, metro travel; inter-state movement by road; schools, colleges, and other educational, training and coaching institutions; hospitality services, including hotels and restaurants.
Places of large public gatherings — cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes — social, political, cultural, and other kinds of gatherings and religious or public worship places are on the prohibited list.
However, the movement of individuals for non-essential activities in all zones, barring containment areas, is allowed but strictly between 7 am and 7 pm.
Barbershops, spas, and salons in Green and Orange zones is allowed to open as is the sale of non-essential items by e-commerce firms.
Sale of liquor will be allowed with certain conditions in all zones, barring containment area, in standalone shops, not in markets or malls.
Sale of liquor, barbershops, and salons were not allowed during the first two phases of lockdown. when the sale of non-essentials by e-commerce companies was also not allowed.
In all zones, persons above 65 years of age, those with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and children below 10 years shall stay at home, except for essential and health purposes.
