India, on Monday, witnessed the largest single-day jump in the number of coronavirus infections, with the number of cases rising by 1,553, taking the total number of cases to 17,265 and 543 fatalities. 36 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Amid the lockdown, extended till May 3, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) warned the states against violation of lockdown measures, saying they pose serious health hazard to public, risks spread of COVID-19. In the letter, Centre singled out Kerala, registering strong objection to the Kerala government's decision to allow opening of restaurants, bus travel in cities and opening of MSME industries in municipal areas, saying it violated the lockdown guidelines. In the letter, the home ministry said the state government on April 17 has circulated revised guidelines for lockdown measures which allowed opening of activities which are prohibited in the Centre's consolidated revised guidelines issued on April 15.
"There has been violence against healthcare workers, violation of social distancing norms, movement of vehicles in urban areas," the Centre told the states. As many as 59 people were arrested on Monday for attacking police and health officials at Padarayanapura in the city when they went to quarantine some people, police said. "59 people have been arrested [in Padarayanapura] and have been taken into custody. The people attacked the officials who had gone to quarantine some poeple who were the primary and secondary contacts of three COVID-19 patients," a police officer said.
"COVID-19 situation is serious in Indore, Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Kolkata and few other places in West Bengal. We have set up six inter-ministerial central teams to make on-spot assessment of COVID-19 situation, issue necessary directions to states. The inter-ministerial teams to focus on compliance, implementation of lockdown; supply of essentials, safety of health workers," the MHA said.
Some lockdown restrictions will be relaxed from today in areas that are not designated COVID-19 hotspots. Labourers, who are stranded in different parts of the country due to the lockdown, will be allowed to go to their respective places of work within a state with certain conditions. However, there will be no inter-state movement of workers during the lockdown. Since additional activities, outside the containment zones, have been permitted in the 'consolidated revised guidelines' with effect from April 20, these workers could be engaged in industrial, manufacturing, construction, farming and MNREGA works.
Services provided by self-employed electrician, Information Technology (IT) repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics, carpenters will be allowed, giving relief to people looking for such facilities.
Agriculture, construction, Information Technology (IT), industrial units in the SEZs and rural areas and e-commerce operations were among the select sectors where the coronavirus-induced lockdown restrictions are to be lifted from April 20 in a bid to also reduce the distress caused to millions of people.
The permitted activities from April 20 are aimed at ensuring 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.
