Lockdown 4.0: Malls, Salons, Buses, Cabs Now Open In These States; But Here Are The Rules

On Monday, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced that no night curfew will be imposed by her government, While extending lockdown in the state till May 31 in accordance with Centre’s guidelines.

While, the Kerala government on Monday eased certain restrictions and allowed buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws to ply with the fourth phase of the nation-wide lockdown began.

On the other hand, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal issued guidelines specific for the national capital to contain the spread of Covid-19, a day after the Centre announced guidelines for lockdown extension until 31 May.

What Rules Will Be Applicable In West Bengal?

To announce the latest guidelines for Lockdown 4.0 in West Bengal, Chief Banerjee said, “We don’t want people to suffer in the name of night curfew.”

She said “Lockdown will continue but I appeal to the people not venture out in the evening post 7 pm. We don’t want to impose curfew but let us all cooperate,”.

Basically, the state government has divided Containment Zones into three categories, which are A (affected zone), B (buffer zone) and C (clean zone).

Out of them, most restrictions will be placed in zone A, there will be some relaxations in the B zone and complete relaxation in C zone.

According to them, all big stores in the state will be allowed to open from May 21 in non-containment zones, Mamata Banerjee announced.

Also, the state government has given autorickshaws permission to ply from May 27 but only with two passengers. 

While the inter-district bus services will resume from May 21.

Apart from that, the hawkers markets may open on alternative days based on an odd-even formula. 

While Police commissions and municipalities will lay down the fine print of hawking areas so that social distancing norms are strictly followed.

Further, the restaurants shall continue to remain shut, hotels, salons and parlors have been allowed to resume functioning outside non-containment areas with proper sanitization.

The chief minister announced, “Private offices, too, have been allowed to operate with up to 50 percent workforce,”.

Moreover, to assure migrant workers from West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee said, “Around 2.5 to 3 lakh migrants have already returned to Bengal. Be a little patient. Don’t politicize this issue. I request all states to take care of our people. We want to bring back everyone but cannot bring back everyone in one day. We have a plan in place, let us execute it. Within the next 2-3 days, we will ask for 120 more trains.”

What Guidelines To Be Followed In Kerala?

According to them, barbershops and beauty parlors can be open, but malls would remain shut.

The Left government announced that liquor outlets would be opened when an online system for booking liquor is ready to relieve the tipplers.

Also, the government issued an order extending the lockdown till 31 May and issued guidelines in accordance with the central government guidelines.

For the transport, the buses would be allowed within a district with 50 percent capacity only, auto-rickshaws can ply with a lone passenger.

Although a maximum of three people can travel in autos if they belong to the same family, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Only two passengers, besides the driver, would be allowed to travel in taxis and in case it’s a family, there can be three passengers apart from the driver. 

Same way, private cars would be allowed.

He said “We will be following the general lockdown conditions in total but will make certain exemptions based on the state-specific requirements. All educational institutions will remain closed but online distance education will be encouraged,”.

Further, the Chief Minister said except in containment zones, there would be no restrictions within the district for traveling.

Also, he said inter-district travel would be allowed between 7 am and 7 pm for which there was no need to get a pass, but people need to carry an identity card. 

He said that the travel to faraway districts would require a pass.

He said “Barbershops and beauty parlors can open without AC with not more than two waiting customers. Liquor outlets would open as and when the online system is ready. Bars can sell liquor and food as a parcel. Licensed clubs can also sell liquor and food to their members,”.

While people would not be allowed to travel in and out of a containment zone.

Although, in case of an emergency, travel would be permitted, but 14 days home quarantine or institutional quarantine would be essential.

Also, all government offices would function with 50 percent attendance and the rest would work from home.

For the Police stations, they would also function with 50 percent of staff.

Apart from that, all Saturdays would be a holiday for government offices until further notice.

Further, Vijayan said adding that government employees who are not able to travel long distances should report to the District Collector near their residence within two days and they would be deployed for COVID-19 related work within the district.

Additionally, the marriage functions would be allowed with a maximum attendance of 50 people and in funerals, not more than 20 people should participate.

While all religious places would continue to be closed and Sundays would be observed as complete lockdown day, he said.

What Rules And Regulations Are Applicable To Delhi?

Let’s go through the list about  what has been again opened up in Delhi:

1. The taxis with two passengers, auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw with one passenger each, buses with 20 passengers to be allowed. All the passengers boarding buses will be screened. The Transport Department will ensure that social distancing norms are followed at all bus stops and inside the bus.
2. Restaurants can open for home-delivery, dining facilities are not allowed. Markets to be opened on staggered timings but shops will open on the odd-even basis. Four-wheelers with only two passengers will be allowed. Two-wheelers will be allowed but with no pillion rider.
3. The private offices can open at full strength but they should try that most of the staff work from home.
4. The construction activities should be allowed in Delhi but only with laborers who are in Delhi right now.
5. The sports complexes and stadiums can open but without spectators.

Below are the activities that continue to remain prohibited:

1. Barbershops, spas and salons will remain closed for now.
2. Also, carpooling or car-sharing will not be allowed for cab aggregators.
3. No activity allowed in containment zones.
4. Religious gatherings are not allowed in Delhi till May 31.
5. Stepping out of homes between 7 pm to 7 am, except for essential services will be prohibited.