Covid-19: A look at how states are riding the second wave of restrictions

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The ongoing crisis in the country due to the spike in Covid-19 cases and worsening health infrastructure has compelled many states to implement strict restrictions of movement. The states have imposed fresh restrictions of lockdown and weekend curfew to contain the spread of the virus. And more and more states are joining the bandwagon in imposing such restrictions.

In the speech made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20th April, he communicated clearly to the states to avoid total lockdown and strengthen the health infrastructure. But many states are announcing such decentralized lockdowns to control the situation that has gone out of hand. Different states have declared different sets of restrictions be it weekend curfew, night curfew, or lockdown with one united goal of curbing the number of cases.

Here is an updated list of states and the restrictions they have announced:

1. Maharashtra

The state is already under a 15-days curfew, which started from 8 pm on the 14th of April and will remain till 7 am on the 1st of May. Section 144 of CrPC is observed across the state to prevent gatherings. The only movement allowed are the ones for essential purposes. All establishments, public places, activities, services are closed, except essential services, including medical stores, hospitals, supply of medicines, among others. Food delivery services are functional and public transport, e-commerce services for essentials are permitted for essentials only. Passengers traveling via train and entering Maharashtra from states like Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, etc., are asked to go on a quarantine period of 14 days.

2. Delhi

Delhi is also under a complete lockdown for 6 days till April 26, 2021. The movement of essential services and activities like food, medical services, etc. are permitted. If there are any weddings that take place in the city, only 50 people allowed, for which a separate pass will be issued. Interstate/intrastate movement, public transportation, private cab services are operational. No visitors are allowed at religious places. Markets, malls, spas, theatres, swimming pools, gyms, etc. are closed.

3. Tamil Nadu

The state has imposed a night curfew between 10 pm and 4 am every day, from April 20, 2021, and lockdown on Sundays. During the night curfew, private and public transportation, taxis and autos are not be allowed to ply. Interstate and inter-state transportation is prohibited. Only those traveling due to emergencies and functioning for essential services like milk and newspaper deliveries, hospitals and diagnostic centers, pharmacies, ambulance, journalists, etc. are be exempted. On Sunday, full lockdown is to imposed wherein meat shops, fish markets, vegetable shops, cinema theatres, etc. will remain closed. Food delivery services and essentials services will be allowed on Sunday lockdown.

4. Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a weekend lockdown across the state till May 15. The lockdown on weekends will be strictly implemented with only frontline workers, sanitation, and emergency staff operating along with other essential services. The government has also ordered that night curfew will continue in all the districts from 8 pm to 7 am daily. The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath requested the people to stay at home and not move out unless absolutely necessary. He has also asked people to celebrate festivals like Ram Navmi and Eid at home.

5. Gujarat

The state government imposed a night curfew from 8 pm to 6 am in 20 cities, which include Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Gandhinagar, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Morbi, Dahod, Patan, Godhra, Bhuj, Gandhidham, Bharuch, Surendranagar, and Amreli. Anyone entering the state will be required to submit a negative RT-PCR report.

6. Rajasthan

Like Maharashtra, the state home government has decided to impose a Section 144 of the CrPC from 22nd April till 21st May, in view of the current COVID19 situation. The government has already ordered the closure of offices and markets from 19th April to 3rd May 2021. Only shops and offices providing essential services are to remain open during the 15-day period. All malls, shopping complexes, cinema halls, and all religious places are closed. Anyone entering Rajasthan has to show a negative RT-PCR report issued prior to the travel. Government officials, people going to and coming from airports, bus stands, railway stations, metro stations are allowed for movement. The number of guests in private functions, marriages, and other social gatherings has also been restricted to 50.

7. Chandigarh

The administration of the Union Territory (UT) declared a weekend lockdown from Friday 8 pm to Monday 5 am, and the night curfew, with updated timing with effect from Thursday (8 pm to 5 am). The state also witnessed a total one-day lockdown on Wednesday to curb unnecessary movements.

Only essential services, including home delivery of food, will be permitted. Anyone who is traveling to the UT has to register on the COVA Punjab app (Corona Virus Alert).

8. Jammu and Kashmir

The state extended the night curfew to all municipal and urban areas due to the rise in the cases of COVID-19 in the Union Territory. The Lieutenant Governor of the union territory Manoj Sinha tweeted on 20th April that public transport (matadors/mini-buses/buses etc.,) in J&K shall be permitted to ply only at 50% of its authorized seating capacity. He also added that only 50% of shops in market complexes/bazaars/malls within the municipal limits/urban local body limits shall be open on an alternate basis through a rotation system.