Delhi (Media Bureau) India has allowed a limited reopening of shops in neighbour and residential areas, a month after areas a month went into lockdown to curb the spread of the corona virus officials said. The federal home ministry announced on Friday that retail shops could start operations from Saturday with a 50-percent reduction is staff and enforcing operations physical distancing, wearing of masks and gloves during works.
The sale of liquor and other non-essential items will continue to be prohibited and no shops large market places multi brand and single brand malls will be allowed to open for business till 3may when the nationwide lockdown is due to end.
The relaxation also would not be applicable in hundreds of hotspot and containment zones across the country.
India has reported 24,530 cases of the coronavirus and 780 deaths, and authorities are setting up new teams to focus on complicate and implement of lockdown measures.
Last week, the government allowed resumption of manufacturing and farming activities in rural areas as millions of daily wage-earners were left without work.
AJ Jazeera’s Elizabeth Puranam, reporting from the capital, New Delhi said: ”shops being allowed to open is a huge relief to millions of Indians in non-hotspot zones who own small, stand-alone shops.”
The Indian government, like many others, say that they are just trying to balance saving lives and livelihood and that is why we are seeing the latest easing of restrictions here.
