COVID-19 Pandemic, Lockdown 2.0: How will life be affected?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended the nationwide lockdown to May 3 in order to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic during his address to the nation at 10 am yesterday. Covid-19 is the potentially fatal respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. In view of the extended lockdown, the government has issued a detailed list of directives for Covid-19 management on Wednesday that includes making face covers mandatory at work and in public places, and banning on spitting and selling liquor and tobacco. All these directives will be enforced during the extended lockdown till May 3.

Lockdown 2.0: How will life be affected?

According to the Home Ministry’s revised lockdown guidelines, select industrial activities are allowed to resume their operations, with adequate safeguards and mandatory standard operating protocols (SOPs); and the digital economy. The MHA guidelines also prescribe National Directives for COVID-19 management; SOPs for social distancing at offices, workplaces, factories and establishments; and, penalties for offences regarding violation of lockdown measures under relevant sections of Disaster Management Act 2005 and IPC, 1860.

Here we have listed the top measures from the National Directives:

1. Wear face covers: The government has made them mandatory in workplaces and in public spaces. Meanwhile, it has already published a manualon making them at home.
2. Spitting in public places will invite fine
3. Substances like gutka, tobacco and alcohol have been banned.
4. Gatherings of more than five people aren’t allowed in public spaces or organisation — supervisors must ensure that. District magistrates have been asked to regulate events like marriages and funerals.
5. Workplaces have been asked to implement specific measures to contain the spread of the virus, including staggered lunch breaks, a gap of one hour between shifts, and encouraging work-from-home arrangements for some employees, especially for senior citizens older than 65.
6. People have been asked to download the contact tracing app Aarogya Setu and encourage others as well to do that.
7. Organisations have been asked to sanitise workplaces between shifts.
8. Large meetings should be avoided.
9. A standard operating procedure on social distancing has been created for workplaces, factories and other establishments.
10. District magistrates will enforce the new National Directives. Penal action, including fines, will be based on the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
11. The government has also released guidelines for states and Union Territories to help them manage the coronavirus outbreak.