The government of India on Friday, two days before the scheduled end of national lockdown on May 3, extended it by another two weeks but with significant, easing of curbs intended to reopen the country and restart economic activity even in the red zones, leaving only containment areas under strict restrictions.
The movement of individuals for "non-essential" activities has been prohibited between 7pm and 7am, and senior citizens, persons with comorbidities (health conditions) and children below 10 years are to stay at home except for health purposes. This can allow domestic help and other local workers to work during the day though states can further clarify the rules in this regard. Private offices (at 33% staff strength) will be able to function even in red zones.
However, the movement of individuals for all non-essential activities between 7pm to 7am is strictly prohibited and Section 144 can be invoked. The norms set the framework for states, which can increase restrictions but cannot dilute them. The norms allow near-normalcy in green zones, now designated as areas with no fresh Covid-19 cases for 21 days, with the movement of taxis, autos and rickshaws. The same applies to orange zones where no cases have been detected for a fortnight but such movement is prohibited in red zones. Buses will also be allowed to operate at 50% capacity in green zones. In red zones, private four-wheelers with maximum two passengers in the back are permitted but for two-wheelers, no pillion riders are allowed.
Centre asks states to create buffer zones
The districts were earlier designated as hotspots or red zones, orange zones and green zones primarily based on the cumulative cases reported and the doubling rate. According to the health ministry, since the recovery rate has gone up, districts are now being designated across various zones on a broad-based criteria. “This classification is multi-factorial and takes into consideration the incidence of cases, doubling rate, extent of testing and surveillance feedback," health secretary Preeti Sudan wrote to chief secretaries of states.
Till April 30, there were 129 districts in the red zone, 297 in orange and 307 in the green zone. The government’s new assessment shows that 12 new districts have qualified as green zone, while the number of districts in the red zone have remained largely unchanged, those identified as orange zones with no new cases in 14 days have reduced from 297 to 284, primarily because many have moved to the green zone.
Under the new guidelines, the Centre has asked states to create buffer zones around containment areas as a safety measure to eliminate any chances of the virus spreading. The health secretary has asked all states to outline the containment areas and buffer zones in the identified red and orange zone districts and notify the same.
"The containment zone is the core area and the buffer zone is the area beyond the containment zone. The containment zone will require stricter measures like house-to-house surveillance," health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal said. While the list will be revised every week, states will not be allowed to relax the zonal classification of districts classified as red and orange zones. However, states can designate additional red and orange zones.
According to the Centre’s list, UP has the highest number of districts in the red zone - 19, followed by Maharashtra at 14. While Tamil Nadu has 12, Delhi’s all 11 districts are in the red zone. West Bengal has 10, whereas Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have five districts each in the red zone.
