Lockdown Timeline: From first wave until now, here’s how Covid-19 curbed your freedom

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a 14-hour voluntary ‘janata curfew‘ on 22 March, 2020 following the rising cases of Covid-19 in the country. This was followed by the nationwide lockdown, from March 25, 2020.

Phase 1 of the total lockdown was observed between March 25 and April 14.

The home ministry extended the lockdown twice this month — the first time from 4 May to 17 May and the second from 18 May to 31 May.

On 8 June, Unlock 1.0 allowed malls, hotels, restaurants and places of worship to reopen.

On 1 July, Unlock 2.0 came into force with more domestic flights and trains resuming services and relaxation in night curfew.

By August, India was experiencing its third phase of ‘unlock’. Gyms and yoga centres were allowed to reopen and night curfew was revoked even as India became the second worst affected country after the US in September.

The ‘Unlock 4’ guidelines took effect and metro services resumed across the country after six long months. The guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said that states can no longer impose lockdowns outside containment zones without the Centre’s permission and must not seal borders.

Unlock 5.0 guidelines came into effect in October under which cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes were permitted to open with up to 50% of their seating capacity from 15 October, and restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement had been lifted.

A year later, what has changed? Even though we have vaccines that are reasonably effective against the virus, the second wave has hit us much harder.

With record high cases being clocked in on an everyday bases. April 2021, has seen cases double from 1 lakh to to 2 lakh in 10 days and then from 2 lakh to 3 lakh in another 10 days.

We are currently seeing an all time high cases of near 3.5 lakh cases. Several states facing a near collapse of the healthcare facilities along with sharp spike in cases have decided to bring back strict Covid-19 curbs like night curfews and weekend lockdowns in a bid to cut the chain of transmission in the second wave of Covid-19.

Maharashtra Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had declared a 15-days curfew in the state, starting 8 pm on April 14. The janta curfew will remain in effect till 7 am on May 1.

Delhi Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too had announced a weekend curfew in the national capital to be enforced from 10 pm on April till 6 am on April 26. Delhi Chief minister has today announced the decision to further extend the lockdown till May 3 amid the still severe situation.

Rajasthan Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced a weekend curfew in the state from 6 pm on April 16 to 5 am on April 19.

Punjab The Punjab government has imposed a night curfew across the state from 9 pm to 5 am till April 30. The Chandigarh administration announced a weekend lockdown in the Union Territory from 10 pm on April 16 till 5 am on April 19.

Haryana Haryana has imposed a night curfew in the state from 10 pm to 5 am, however no lockdown or weekend curfew has been imposed.

Uttar Pradesh In U.P., the Chief Minister’s Office had announced a Sunday lockdown on April 18 where only sanitation, sanitisation and emergency services will operate during this period. Several districts have extended weekend lockdowns and night curfews in the state.

Karnataka In Karnataka, night curfew has been imposed between 10 pm and 5 am in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Tumkuru, Udupi, and Manipal.

Gujarat The Gujarat government imposed a night curfew from 8 pm to 6 am in 20 cities.

Odisha In Odisha, The state government has imposed a night curfew between 10 pm to 5 am. Night curfew has been imposed in 10 districts of Sundergarh, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur.

Kerala The Kerala government too has imposed fresh restrictions, to be in place till April 30.

J&K The Jammu and Kashmir administration imposed a night curfew in eight districts, including Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam, Anantnag and Kupwara.