Lockdown 4.0: States, UTs can demarcate red, green, orange zones

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, May 17

Under the fresh guidelines for lockdown 4.0, states and UTs have been given powers for delineation of red, green and orange zones as per COVID-19 situation, Ministry of Home Affairs said on Sunday.

The respective states and UT governments can decide on demarcating zones after taking into consideration parameters shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Further, district authorities can demarcate ‘containment’ and ‘buffer’ areas within red and orange zones as per the Union Health Ministry guidelines.

Also read: What constitutes red zones? Centre shares key parameter with states

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had on Saturday said the states should be allowed a simple containment/non-containment zone categorisation instead of the green/orange/red zone classification of the Central government.

In a ‘Facebook Live’ interaction, Amarinder had pointed out that at present, the district as a whole is a single zone or at the most, there are two units i.e. municipal corporation area and non- municipal corporation area. As per the current system, Covid cases in one part of the district can result in classification of the entire district as red zone, thus putting severe restrictions on industry, shops, etc, he had noted, underlining the need to scrap this system and go for a containment-focused strategy.

As per today’s guidelines issued by the Centre, “In the containment zones, only essential activities shall be allowed. There shall be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services.

Guidelines of MoHFW shall be taken into consideration for the above purpose. In the containment zones, there shall be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance, and other clinical interventions, as required,” the fresh order said.

The movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm to 7 am, except for essential activities. Local authorities shall issue orders, in the entire area of their jurisdiction, under appropriate provisions of law, such as prohibitory orders (curfew) under Section 144 of CrPC, and ensure strict compliance.