NEW DELHI, May 17 - The nationwide lockdown has been extended for two more weeks, till May 31, though no fresh restrictions have been imposed. However, some relaxations have been permitted.
All domestic and international air travels continue to remain banned, though medical and security related domestic flights will be allowed with the permission of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
However, in a major concession, inter-state movement of buses and passenger vehicles have been allowed with the mutual consent of the states. The intra-state movement of buses and passengers will be decided by the state government. Buses and other public transport will be allowed to run � both intra and inter-state � but subject to the approval of the states, the Centre said.
Schools, colleges and educational institutions will continue to remain closed. However, online and distance learning will be permitted.
The government retained the curfew � from 7 pm to 7 am. Movement of people will be allowed only during the daytime. The government, however, said people above the age of 65 and children below 10 shall stay at home.
In the fresh set of guidelines, the Centre has allowed state governments and Union Territories to demarcate the Red, Green and Orange zones, which define the concentration of the cases and how much economic activity could take place in these areas. This was one of the key demands of states during the last week�s meeting between chief ministers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Within the Red and Orange Zones, Containment Zones and Buffer Zones will be demarcated by the District administration, after taking into consideration the guidelines of the Health Ministry, the government said.
Economic activities will not be allowed within the containment zones, which have a high incidence of coronavirus cases, the Centre said.
Shopping malls, cinema halls, hotels, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will remain shut till May 31. Local authorities should ensure that shops and markets open with staggered timings, so as to ensure social distancing, the government said.
Sports complexes and stadiums can open, however, spectators will not be allowed.
All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions, and places of worship to remain shut during the lockdown period, the Government said.
The extension of the lockdown period became inevitable when earlier today Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu joined Punjab and Mizoram in extending the lockdown till May 31.
