Coronavirus lockdown: Dos and don’ts in Red, Orange and Green zones

The central government on Friday extended the nationwide lockdown amid the novel coronavirus by two weeks till May 17. Though the lockdown 3.0 will be imposed there are some relaxations in economic activity, and local travel based on zone-wise cataloguing of districts have been allowed.

The standards for identification of districts as Red, Orange and Green zones have been spelt out in the letter, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

The classification of districts as Red zones will take into consideration based on the total number of active cases, the extent of testing, surveillance and doubling rate from the districts.

The Green zones will be districts with either zero confirmed cases till date. In contrast, regions which are neither in Red nor Green will be classified in Orange Zones.

Here are the restrictions under the new guidelines issued:

Prohibition in all zones

• Movement of individuals for non-essential activities from 7 am to 7 pm.
• Hospitality services, including cafes, restaurants and hotels.
• Schools, colleges and other educational institutions.
• Places of large public gatherings such as theatres, gyms, shopping malls, cinema halls and sports complexes.
• Religious gatherings and all places of worship.
• All forms of public transport: air, metro and interstate travel by road.

Red zone

All health services, manufacturing units of essential goods, courier and postal services, all agriculture activities, banks, non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), animal husbandry activities, industrial and construction in rural areas, e-commerce activities for essential goods are allowed in the districts in Red Zone.

Whereas, shops in urban areas for non-essential goods, malls, markets and market complexes, construction activities in urban areas, construction of renewable energy projects, running of taxis and cab aggregators, barbershops, spas and salons, liquor shops, cinema halls, theatres, restaurants and gyms are prohibited.

Orange zone

In addition to activities permitted in Red zone, taxis and cab aggregators will be permitted with one driver and two passengers only in Orange Zone. The inter-district commute of individuals and vehicles will be allowed for permitted activities only. Maximum two passengers besides the driver in four-wheeler vehicles and pillion riding on two-wheelers will be allowed.

Green zone

In the Green Zones, all activities are allowed except the limited number of activities which are banned throughout the country, irrespective of the zone. Plying of rickshaws, running of taxis and cab aggregators is allowed whereas intra-district and inter-district plying of buses and barber shops, spas and salons can also function.

Buses can run with up to 50 per cent seating capacity. In contrast, bus depots can function with up to 50 per cent capacity in the Green Zone.