Wearing masks compulsory, spitting in public now a punishable offence

Industrial units in rural areas will be allowed to function from April 20 provided they follow social distancing norms while all kinds of public transport will be barred and public places closed till May 3 according to guidelines issued on Wednesday to enforce the second phase of the lockdownWearing masksface covers in public places is now compulsory across the country Besides spitting in public has been made a punishable offence and a strict ban enforced on the sale of liquor gutka tobacco etc under the new Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines that come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Tuesday extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3PicTwitter Narendra ModiThe prime minister also said necessary activities will be allowed from April 20 in identified areas of the country A threeweek lockdown to contain the spread of COVID19 came into effect after his announcement on March 24Laying out the dos and donrsquots for phase two of the pan India lockdown the guidelines state that all work places should make adequate arrangements for temperature screening and must provide sanitisers at convenient placesServices provided by selfemployed electricians IT repair personnel plumbers motor mechanics and carpenters will be allowed from April 20 While interstate interdistrict movement of people metro bus services will be prohibited till May 3 the government has allowed industrial units located in rural areas to function from April 20 by observing strict social distancing normsMumbai police officials snapped during a candid moment at the Gateway of India amid lockdownManufacturing industrial units with access control in SEZs export oriented units industrial estates industrial townships will also be allowed to function from that date Educational institutions coaching centres domestic international air travel train services will remain suspended the ministry saidPublic places such as cinema halls malls shopping complexes gymnasiums sports complexes swimming pools and bars will be shut too till May 3 All social political sports religious functions religious places places of worship will also be closed till then according to the guidelinesHowever highway dhaba eateries truck repairing shops call centres for government activities will remain open from April 20 Shops selling agriculture machinery and those dealing with spare parts supply chains and repairs as well as custom hiring centresrsquo related to farm machinery will also be open from that dayActivities permitted five days from now include those related to agricultural and the horticultural sectors farmers and farm workers in the field as well as procurement of agri products Units manufacturing drugs pharmaceuticals medical devices medical infrastructure including manufacture of ambulances will be open from April 20A woman carries ration on her shoulders as a police officer looks on amid lockdown in the cityThe guidelines state that grocery stores fruits vegetables shops carts milk booths poultry meat and fish shop will remain open during the lockdown However exemptions given from April 20 will not be applicable in COVID19 hotspotscontainment zones The document specifies that stateUT governments shall not dilute guidelines in any manner but may impose stricter measures in accordance with local requirementsThe Home Ministry said permitted industries must make arrangements for the stay of workers within their premises or in adjacent buildings by observing social distancing norms It said Defence paramilitary Health and Family Welfare disaster management NIC FCI NCC Nehru Yuva Kendra and Customs offices will function without any restrictionsOther ministries and departments will function with 100 per cent attendance with deputy secretary and above rank officers Remaining officers and staff to attend up to 33 per cent as per requirement it said According to the guidelines in order to mitigate the publicrsquos hardship select additional activities will be allowed from April 20However these additional activities will be operationalised by states and UTs and district administrators based on strict compliance to existing guidelines on lockdown measures it saidActivities permitted from April 20 are aimed at ensuring that agricultural and related activities remain fully functional rural economy functions with maximum efficiency employment opportunities are created for daily wage earners and other members of labour force select industrial activities are allowed to resume their operations with safeguards and mandatory standard operating protocols and digital economy states the documentPolice authorities seal off WorliKoliwada after coronavirus positive cases were confirmed from WorliThe revised guidelines will not apply in containment zones as demarcated by states UTs district administrations If any new area is included in the category of a containment zone the activities allowed in that area till the time of its categorization as a containment zone will be suspended except those specifically permitted under the Health Ministryrsquos guidelinesContainment zones will be demarcated by statesUTs district administrations in accordance with the ministryrsquo guidelines In these zones no unchecked inwardoutward movement of population would be allowed except for essential servicesThe government described digital economy as critical to the services sector Accordingly ecommerce operations operations of IT and IT enabled services data and call centres for government activities and online teaching and distance learning are all permittedCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever