COVID-19 lockdown: What opens from April 20, what won’t; see full list
The Centre has issued a revised list of services and economic activities to be allowed from April 20, 2020 in the non-hotspot parts of the country. These areas are designated as the least affected ones from the coronavirus outbreak. According to a Home Ministry order, the supply of non-essential items by e-commerce companies has now been prohibited in the lockdown period.
The sale of items such as laptops, mobile phones, television sets, refrigerators was allowed by the government last week. The economic activities and services to be functional marked the essential services such as health services, including the Ministry of AYUSH, micro finance institutions and non banking financial corporations.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad shared a detailed post on twitter about the certain economic activities to be allowed after April 20, including some commercial and private establishments. However, all reopened workplaces and factories will need to follow the social distancing norms released by the government.
Here is a complete list of services which will be stay open after April 20, 2020:
- Agriculture, horticulture-related activities will stay open. The fishing industry, both inland and marine and the aquaculture factory will be allowed to function.
- Plantation activities such as tea, coffee, rubber, bamboo etc will be allowed with 50 percent workforce.
- Construction activities in rural areas, along with water supply, sanitation, waste management, power, telecom will be allowed to function
- The financial sector, specifically, banks will be open according to normal working hours. ATMs will be open.
- For the social sector, the operation of children’s homes, disabled people, senior citizens’ homes and homes for destitute will be open. Anganwadis will operate for distribution of food to children, women at homes once in 15 days.
- MGNREGS works will be allowed with strict social distancing norms and use of face masks
- The loading and unloading of cargo, both inter and intra-state by air, rail sea and road will be allowed
- The supply of essential goods at local grocery stores and e-commerce retailers will be open
- Commercial and private establishments will be open, which include electronic and print media, including broadcasting, cable services; DTH, data and call centres for the government activities only. The e-commerce companies selling essential goods will be allowed. Courier services, hotels, homestays and lodges for stranded persons or medical and emergency staff will be allowed.
- The industries or industrial establishments, be it government and private industries functioning in rural areas and those factories involved in food processing, manufacture of medicines and medical equipment will remain open.
- Government, state government and union territories offices will be open
