Lockdown 4.0 ⁠— India issues new guidelines allowing states to decide the red, green, and orange zones

• States can now reopen certain sections of the economy based on their assessment even within those areas earlier earmarked as red zones, which included most of India's biggest cities.
• India has been under nationwide lockdown since Match 24 and was scheduled to end on May 17.
• Get the latest news and updates about the COVID-19 lockdown on $4.

The Narendra Modi government in New Delhi has released new norms for the lockdown until May 31, which netizens are calling Lockdown 4.0, after the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) declared earlier in the day that the lockdown had to be extended for another 14 days to curb the spread of the COVID-19 infections.

India has been under nationwide lockdown since Match 24 and was scheduled to end on May 17.

The key highlights of the new guidelines include:

States will be allowed to decide the red, green, and orange zones after taking into account the guidelines from the Ministry of Home Affairs. This will allow states to reopen certain segments of the economy, at least in parts.

All states and Union Territories shall allow inter-state movement of all types of goods/cargo and even empty trucks .

Sports complexes and stadiums will be allowed to open but spectators won't be allowed.

All activities are allowed in non-containment zones except those that are specifically prohibited.

Specifically prohibited list of activities:

• Schools, colleges, and other educational/training institutions won't reopen yet.
• Hotels, restaurants, and hospitality services to remain shut but restaurants are allowed to operate kitches for delivery.
• Cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, swimming pools etc. to remain shut.
• Places of religious worship and other large congregations remain barred.
• Metro rail services will remain shut.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba will hold a meeting with Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of all states on Sunday at 9 p.m. through video conferencing, sources told IANS. Home Secretaries and Health Secretaries of all states/Union Territories (UTs) are also expected to join the meeting to discuss the implementations of the new nationwide guidelines.

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