From Wednesday, the Telangana government has announced that the state will be placed under a 10-day lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The lockdown will start at 10 a.m. on May 12 and last until May 22. The chief minister’s office said in a statement that the lockdown will be lifted from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. every day.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao held a cabinet meeting in which it was decided to give people a four-hour break for their “general activities and needs.” The decision to impose the lockdown comes just a week after the chief minister stated that no partial or complete lockdown would be imposed in the state because it would lead to the state’s economy collapsing.
Here’s what you can do and what you can’t:
- According to the press release, agricultural activities and work in related industries will be permitted. “Works related to agriculture produce, allied sectors, works undertaken with the agriculture machines, running of rice mills, transport of the paddy and rice, supplying paddy to FCI, fertilizer and seeds shops and manufacturing companies and other agri-based sectors are exempted from the lockdown,” the statement said.
- All medical and health services will be operational in government and private hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment manufacturing units, medical distributors, and medical shops. Those who work at these locations will be given special travel passes.
- Every day between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., all shops and businesses will be open. “The lockdown would be strictly enforced for the remaining 20 hours.” During the lockdown, only essential services would be permitted, according to the official statement.
- Another cabinet meeting was scheduled for May 20 to review the situation and take a call on whether the lockdown should be extended.
- Exemption will be given to those working as part of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
- State government offices will be open but with only 33 per cent of their staff members.
- Weddings with a maximum of 40 guests will be permitted with prior permission. A maximum of 20 people will be allowed to attend funerals.
- There will be no cinemas, swimming pools, clubs, gyms, amusement parks, or sports stadiums open. According to the official release, “The Director General of Police has been instructed to strictly implement the lockdown following the Covid guidelines,” the official release said.
