Haryana’s government recently announced a week-long, state-wide complete lockdown, during which essential services are allowed. Here are all the dos and don’ts. By Bayar Jain
3 मई दिन सोमवार से 7 दिन के लिए सारे हरियाणा में पूर्ण लॉक डाउन घोषित ।
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) May 2, 2021
In a succinct tweet written in Hindi, Haryana’s Cabinet Minister Anil Vij announced a week-long complete lockdown in Haryana, starting May 3. This, according to Vij, is the government’s attempt at breaking the chain of the raging coronavirus.
Dos
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According to The Mint, while the state will remain largely closed during this period, essential services will continue to function, albeit with restrictions on the number of people who can gather at a point. One such service allowed to function during this seven-day lockdown in Haryana is all the health services. This includes hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and vaccination centres. Related health services like dispensaries, chemists, pharmacies, medicine shops, and places that supply medical equipment will also remain functional, provided they function as per guidelines issued by the government.
Additionally, economic activities will also ply as regular. This means that banks, ATMs, and IT vendors for banking operations will also remain functional. Supply of essentials—whether for manufacturing, wholesale, retail, brick and mortar, or e-commerce—can also continue functioning with strict social distancing norms. Local and ration shops selling essential goods (food and groceries; hygiene-related items; dairy and milk books; poultry, meat, fish; and animal feed and fodder) are also exempted.
Students appearing for examinations at centres can travel, provided a valid examination pass is furbished. House helps like maids, drivers, cooks, medical attendees, and caregivers can also continue with their duties.
Don’ts
Attempting to curb public movement to the maximum, the state government has decided to temporarily shut all cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment packs, bars, assembly halls, and auditoriums.
All religious places and congregations are also prohibited during this period.
The Middle Ground
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Although clear demarcations have been chalked out, some services have a middle ground where part functioning is allowed. Take media houses, for instance. While print and electronic media—including direct-to-home (DTH) services—can function, they can do so only at half capacity. The same rule also applies to IT and related services; and government data and call centres.
For the travel sector, a similar rule is in place. Public transport like buses, trains, and metro can ply at 50 per cent capacity, while taxi and cab aggregators can ferry a maximum of three passengers in addition to the driver. With regards to hotels, lodges, home-stays, and motels, only those accommodating stranded tourists, isolating individuals, aircraft crew, and medical staff can function.
While dining out at restaurants has been given the red signal, ordering in from hotels, restaurants, eateries and food joints have been given a go-ahead. This, however, can only take place till 10:00 pm every day, post which even that is forbidden. Roadside food joints—including fruit stalls—are allowed only to provide takeaway services.
At funerals, a cap of 20 people has been reintroduced.
Editor’s Note: Keeping the current situation of the pandemic in mind, T+L India recommends every reader to stay safe, and take all government-regulated precautions in case travel at this time is absolutely necessary. Please follow our stories on #IndiaFightsCorona for all the latest travel guidelines.
Related: COVID-19 Relief Fund 2021: Verified List Of Organisations Where You Can Donate
