1. With the extension of the Lockdown period for a further period of two weeks with effect from 4th May 2020, new guidelines, as under, will be applicable based on the risk profiling of the districts into Red (Hotspot), Green and Orange zones.
2. Identification of Red (Hotspots), Green and Orange Zones
I. Based on their risk profile, the criteria for dividing the districts of the country into three zones, viz., green, red and orange, will be as follows:
- Green Zones: Green Zones shall be defined as per the following criteria: districts with zero confirmed case til date; or; districts with no confirmed case in the last 21 days.
- Red Zones or Hotspot Districts: Districts shall be defined as Red Zones or Hotspot districts, by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (Gol), taking into account total number of active cases, doubling rate of confirmed cases, extent of testing and surveillance feedback.
- Orange Zones: Districts, which are neither defined as Red nor as Green Zones, shall be Orange Zones.
II. MoHFW will share the list of Red Zone (Hotspot), Orange Zone and Green Zone districts and related information with State/ UTs on a weekly basis or earlier as required. States/ UTs, on review, may consider inclusion of additional districts as Red Zone (Hotspots) and Orange Zone districts depending on the extent of spread of COVlD-19 infection. However, States and UTs may not lower the classification of any district, that is included in the list of Red Zone (Hotspots) and Orange Zone districts by MoHFW.
III. Districts classified either as Red or Orange Zones, may have one or more Municipal Corporation (MC) areas. In such cases, States/ UTs and District administrations may make an assessment of the distribution of cases – within the jurisdiction of the MC(s); and the area falling outside the MC(s) boundaries. In such cases, the classification of zones shall be as follows:
A. in case the district is classified as a Red Zone, and, there is no confirmed case in the last 21 days in the area of the district outside the limits of the MC(s), this area may be labeled as an Orange Zone. However, due caution may be exercised in such areas so that they remain free from COVlD-19 cases.
B. In case the district is classified as an Orange Zone, and, there is no confirmed case in the last 21 days in the area of the district outside the limits of the MC(s), this area may be labeled as a Green Zone. However, due caution may be exercised in such areas so that they remain free from COVlD-19 cases.
C. In case in the area of the district outside the limits of the MC (5) does have one or more confirmed case(s) in the last 21 days, this part of the district shall continue to be labeled as a Red or Orange Zone, as per the classification of the district.
D. While assessing the classification of a zone, cases should be registered in the zone where the case originates, rather than where it is treated.
3. Identification of Containment Zones
I. Containment Zones shall be demarcated within Red (Hotspots) and Orange Zones by States/ UTs and District Administrations based on the guidelines of MoHFW. The boundary of the Containment Zone shall be defined by District Administrations taking into account the following factors: mapping of cases and contacts; geographical dispersion of cases and contacts; area with well demarcated perimeter; and enforceability.
II. The boundary of the Containment Zone will be a residential colony, mohalla, municipal ward, municipal zone, Police Station area, towns etc, in case of urban areas; and, a village, cluster of villages, Gram Panchayats, group of Police Stations, blocks etc., in case of rural areas.
Protocol within Containment Zones:
III. Intensive surveillance mechanism as outlined in the Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) issued by MoHFW is to be established within the Containment Zone. The local authority shall ensure 100% coverage of Aarogya Setu app among the residents of Containment Zones.
IV. In the Containment Zone, following activities shall be undertaken by the local authorities:
a. Contact Tracing.
b. Home or Institutional quarantining of individuals based on risk assessment by medical officers. This risk assessment will be based on symptoms, contact with confirmed cases, and travel history.
c. Testing of al cases with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI), Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and other symptoms specified by MOHFW.
d. House to house surveillance by special teams constituted for this purpose.
e. Clinical management of al cases as per protocol.
f. Counselling and educating people; and establishing effective communication strategies.
V. In these Containment Zones, within Red (Hotspots) and Orange Zones, where maximum precaution is required, there shall be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of population in or out of these zones except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services. The guidelines issued in this regard by MoHFW will be strictly implemented by State/ UT Governments and the local district authorities.
4. The following activities will continue to remain prohibited across the country, irrespective of the Zone, for a period of two weeks with effect from 4th May, 2020:
I. All domestic and international air travel of passengers, except for medical services, air ambulance and for security purposes or for purposes as permitted by MHA.
II. All passenger movement by trains, except for security purposes or for purposes as permitted by MHA.
III. Inter-State Buses for public transport, except as permitted by MHA.
IV. Metro rail services.
V. Inter-State movement of individuals except for medical reasons or for activities as permitted by MHA.
VI. All schools, colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions etc. However, online/ distance learning shall be permitted.
VII. Hospitality services other than those used for housing health/ police/ Government officials/ healthcare workers, stranded persons including tourists, and those used for quarantine facilities.
VIII. All cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places.
IX. All social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions/ other gatherings.
X. All religious places/ places of worship shall be closed for public. Religious congregations are strictly prohibited.
5. Measures for well being and safety of persons
I. The movement of individuals, for al non-essential activities, shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm to 7 am. Local authorities shall issue orders under appropriate provisions of law, such as prohibitory orders [curfew] under Section 144 of CrPC, for this purpose, and ensure strict compliance.
II. In all zones, persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, shall stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes, as per the National Directives.
III. In Containment Zones, Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) and Medical clinics shall not be permitted to operate. However, these may be permitted to operate in Red, Orange and Green Zones, with social distancing norms and other safety precautions.
6. Activities in Containment Zones
I. Strict perimeter control.
II.Establishment of clear entry and exit points.
III. Movement of persons only for maintaining supply of goods and services; and for medical emergencies.
IV. No unchecked influx of people and transport.
V. Recording of details of people moving in and out of perimeter.
7. Activities in Red Zones (Hotspots) [Outside Containment Zones]
I. Apart from the prohibited activities mentioned at Para 4, the following activities shall not be permitted:
a. Cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws.
b. Taxis and cab aggregators.
c. Intra—district and inter-district plying of buses. d. Barber shops, spas and salons.
II. The following activities shall be permitted with restrictions as specified:
a. Movement of individuals and vehicles, only for permitted activities. Four wheeler vehicles will have maximum two passengers besides the vehicle driver; for two wheelers, pillion rider is not allowed.
b. Industrial establishments in urban areas: Only Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Export Oriented Units (EOUs), industrial estates and industrial townships with access control; Manufacturing units of essential goods, including drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, their raw material and intermediates; Production units, which require continuous process, and their supply chain; Manufacturing of IT hardware; Jute industry with staggered shifts and social distancing; and, Manufacturing units of packaging material are permitted.
All industrial activities are permitted in rural areas.
c. Construction activities in urban areas: Only in situ construction (where workers are available on site and no workers are required to be brought in from outside) and construction of renewable energy projects are permitted.
All construction activities are permitted in rural areas.
d. All malls, market complexes and markets shall remain closed in urban areas, i.e., areas within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities. However, shops selling essential goods in markets and market complexes are permitted.
All standalone (single) shops, neighborhood (colony) shops and shops in residential complexes are permitted to remain open in urban areas, without any distinction of essential and non-essential.
All shops in rural areas, except in malls, are permitted to remain open, without any distinction of essential and non-essential.
Social distancing (2 Gaz ki door!) will be maintained in all cases.
e. E-commerce activities will be permitted only in respect of essential goods.
f. Private offices can operate with upto 33% strength as per requirement, with the remaining persons working from home.
g. All Government offices shall function with officers of the level of Deputy Secretary and above to the extent of 100% strength. The remaining staff will attend upto 33% as per requirement. However, Defense and Security services, Health and Family Welfare, Police, Prisons, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services, Disaster Management and related services, NIC, Customs, FCI, NCC, NYK and Municipal services shall function without any restrictions; delivery of public services shall be ensured and necessary staff will be deployed for such purpose.
8. Activities in Orange Zones [Outside Containment Zones]
i. Apart from the prohibited activities mentioned at Para 4, the following activities shall not be permitted:
a. Inter-district and Intra—district plying of buses.
ii. The following activities shall be permitted with restrictions as are specified:
a. Taxis and cab aggregators, with 1 driver and 2 passengers only.
b. Inter—district movement of individuals and vehicles, only for permitted activities. Four wheeler vehicles will have maximum 2 passengers besides the driver.
9. Activities in Green Zones
I. SOP on transit arrangement for foreign national(s) in India and release of quarantine persons, issued vide Order dated April 02, 2020.
II. SOP on movement of stranded labour within States/ UTs, issued vide Order dated April 19, 2020.
III. SOP on sign-on and sign—off of Indian seafarers, issued vide Order dated April 21, 2020.
IV. SOP on movement of stranded migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons, issued vide Order dated April 29, 2020.
V. SOP on movement of stranded migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons by train, issued vide Order dated May 01, 2020.
14. Strict enforcement of the lockdown guidelines
State/ UT Governments shall not dilute these guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in any manner, and shall strictly enforce the same.
15. Instructions for enforcement of above lockdown measures:
i. All the district magistrates shall strictly enforce the above lockdown measures and the National Directives for COVID 19 Management, for public and work places, as specified in Annexure I.
ii. In order to implement these containment measures, the District Magistrate will deploy Executive Magistrates as Incident Commanders in the respective local jurisdictions. The Incident Commander will be responsible for the overall implementation of these measures in their respective jurisdictions. All other line department officials in the specified area will work under the directions of such Incident Commander. The Incident Commander will issue passes for enabling essential movements as explained.
iii. The Incident Commanders will in particular ensure that al efforts for mobilization of resources, workers and material for augmentation and expansion of hospital infrastructure shall continue without any hindrance.
16. Penal provisions
Any person violating these lockdown measures and the National Directives for COVID-19 Management will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Sec. 188 of the IPC, and other legal provisions as applicable. Extracts of these penal provisions are at Annexure lI.
*To access the Order, please click the following link:
Ministry of Home Affairs
[Order dt. 01-05-2020]