Regardless of the rising number of COVID-19 positive cases and deaths in Gujarat, shops and business establishments and offices will open with some conditions in non-containment areas from Tuesday.
The guidelines and SOPs for Lockdown 4.0 were announced after Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani held marathon meetings with district collectors, municipal commissioners and senior bureaucrats.
The rules will be effective till May 31 and Rupani said that containment zones will also be reviewed during the period.
The number of deaths in Gujarat has gone up to 694 with 35 deaths being reported in 24 hours ending at 5 pm on Monday. Out of the 35 deaths, 31 have been from Ahmedabad district. With 366 new cases, the total number of cases in Gujarat has gone up to 11,746. As many as 4804 people have been discharged so far in the state.
Lockdown 4.0 will be strictly implemented in containment zones with permission to sell fruits, vegetables, milk, grocery and medicines only between 8 am and 3 pm. In the non-containment zones, shops, business establishments, barber shops, saloons, garages, repair shops and a lot more will remain open from 8 am to 4 pm on odd-even basis.
Rupani said that the fight against coronavirus is long and we need to beat the virus. He said that the guidelines have been framed taking into consideration the economy and to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread further.
In the entire state, the surveillance and health aspects will be looked into on the basis of green, orange and red zones.
Rupani said that in shops more than five customers will not be allowed at a time and in saloons/barber shops there will not be more than three clients at a time. This is to maintain social distancing.
Offices in non-containment areas will also open, with conditions. Pan and masala shops will remain open in non-containment areas but people have been asked to pick up the stuff and leave the place.
Schools, colleges, gymnasiums, theaters, multiplexes and malls will continue to remain shut in Gujarat. Gardens will remain closed for the public and there is a ban on social, cultural and religious gatherings.
Restaurants will be allowed to open in non-containment zones. However, they will serve only take aways and there won't be any dine in. Albeit, dhabas on the highways have been allowed to open with the condition of maintaining social distancing.
The textile industry in non-containment areas of Surat will also start functioning with 50 per cent attendance.
In non-containment areas, private taxis will be allowed with a condition of having a maximum of two passengers and one driver. Pillion rider won't be allowed on two-wheelers. Autorickshaws will be allowed with two passengers in non-containment areas, except for Ahmedabad.
Exhorting people to maintain social distancing, Rupani said that an arrangement has been made to make available three layered masks and N95 masks from Amul outlets in the state. The three-layered mask will cost Rs 5 and N95 mask will be available for Rs 65.
There is a ban on spitting in public and those violating it will be fined Rs 200. Those not wearing masks in public will also be fined Rs 200.