The Union government has extended lockdown till May 31. Lockdown 4.0 grants more autonomy to the state governments in deciding on important issues like transportation among others.
Bengaluru: The Union government has decided to extend the lockdown till May 31.
The Union home ministry, keeping this in mind, has also issued a set of guidelines to better manage the situation.
The list of activities prohibited and establishments to remain shut include domestic and international air travel, metro rail services, schools and colleges, hotels and restaurants, cinema halls, malls, gyms, swimming pools, and religious and social gatherings of all kinds.
The 7 am to 7 pm curfew also holds good but people can move around in case of emergency.
Interestingly, the movement of interstate buses and cars has also been green-signalled.
On the other hand, the Union home ministry has given the states the privilege to decide on other important issues which also include determining red, orange, green, containment and buffer zones.
Another interesting thing to note is that offices can operate with full strength. This was contrary to the earlier lockdown rules in which offices were forbidden from functioning with full strength.
However, the ministry has also advised employers to continue with the work from home option for a few more days.
With the Union ministry giving the state governments the full authority to decide on many issues, plying of buses, taxis, cabs, auto rickshaws, opening of barber shops and the like, it is the state governments that will have sit and take a call on these.
Passenger trains will also not be functional, with the exception of Shramik trains. Though state governments will decide on transport, metro services continue to remain suspended.
The government has also advised elders (50+) and kids (10 years and less) to stay home and step out only if necessary.
Lockdown 4.0 is different from its earlier versions in that the state governments have been given a greater autonomy and economic activities get more stress.
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