The government on Friday gave a green light for the shops to open in areas which have had low COVID-19 influence amid the outbreak. This order, however, is not applicable to the malls, which will remain closed until further notice. Shops inside containment zones, hotspots and areas which have had a high rate of coronavirus spread will also remain closed. As per the government order, all shops within the municipal limits can function with 50 per cent strength of workers.
On April 15, the government had notified the industries and commercial establishments which can open in certain zones where there are no or fewer coronavirus cases.
What Opens From Today
- All shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State/Union Territory, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes, outside the municipal corporations and municipalities, will be allowed to open.
- Neighbourhood shops, standalone shops, and shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, will be allowed to open.
- Shops located in registered markets outside the municipal corporations can open with only 50 per cent staff working and following the norms of social distancing. Masks need to be worn at all times.
- Salons and parlours will be allowed to operate from Saturday.
- In rural and semi-rural areas, all the markets have been allowed to open.
- In urban areas, non-essential goods and services will be allowed to operate provided they are in residential areas or is a standalone shop.
- In rural areas, non-essentials services will be allowed in all shops.
- Market complexes, except those within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, are allowed to open.
- All small shops in the neighbourhood will be allowed to open amid the coronavirus lockdown.
These relaxations are given by the state governments depending on the situation in a particular area.
In a modification of the earlier order, the Ministry of Home Affairs has replaced the term "shopping complexes" with "market complexes" within the limits of municipal corporations and "municipalities".
Shops have been allowed outside the city limits except those in malls with 50 per cent workforce while wearing of masks has been made compulsory.
Among the inclusions are shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective states and UTs, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes, except shops in multi-brand and single brand malls.
These have been allowed outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, with 50 per cent strength of workers, making wearing of masks and social distancing mandatory.
The other inclusion is the smaller shops in the neighbourhood areas and residential areas which are now allowed to operate within the city.
What Remains Closed
- Shops in multi-brand and single-brand malls outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities will not open.
- Shops in market complexes, multi-brand and single-brand malls within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities will not open from Saturday.
- Cinema halls, mails. shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls will remain shut.
- Big shops/brands/market places will remain shut.
- In urban (municipal) areas, market complex like Nehru Place, Lajpat Nagar etc will not open.
It includes all shops including neighbourhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations, registered under the Shops and Establishment Act, except shops in market complexes and multi-brand and single brand malls, with 50 per cent strength of workers. As mentioned, wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing norms are mandatory.
This order has been sent to the Chief Secretaries of the states and administrators of the Union Territories and is in continuation of the guidelines for the enforcement of lockdown.
This order carries out amendments in the order issued on April 15, which detailed which industries and commercial establishments can open with safeguards.
One reason could be that if the industries open, the retail end of the supply chain has to be available for consumption purposes. It will also aid gradual pickup in economic activities.
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