In a major relief to the public and an attempt to restart the economy, the Ministry of Home Affairs has permitted shops providing non-essential goods and services to finally open their shutters, provided they follow social distancing norms.
Centre Allows All Shops To Open Amid Lockdown
Exactly a month since the nationwide lockdown was put in place, the Centre in its latest order has allowed registered neighborhood and stand-alone shops to open if they follow certain guidelines.
The Union Home Ministry on Friday announced, “All shops, including neighborhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State and UT” are allowed to open during the lockdown.”
The Ministry has also permitted shops located in registered markets located outside the municipal corporations and municipalities to function, provided they follow social distancing norms.
The opening of shops selling non-essential goods and services is subjected to the conditions that they will function with only 50% of the staff, wear masks, and follow all norms of social distancing.
The concession, however, has not been extended to shops in market places or multi-brands and single-brand malls located in municipality areas. The relaxations also do not extend to coronavirus hotspots and containment zones.
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#COVID19 update
All registered shops regd under Shops & Establishment Act of respective States/ UTs, including shops in residential complexes, neighborhood & standalone shops exempted from #lockdown restrictions.Prohibited: Shops in single & multi brand malls pic.twitter.com/NNz9abgWdA
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) April 24, 2020
What Will Remain Open?
1. 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.
2. Neighborhood shops, standalone shops, and shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, will be allowed to open.
3. Shops located in registered markets outside the municipal corporations and municipalities can open only with 50% staff, wearing masks and following social distancing norms.
4. In rural and semi-rural areas, all shops except those in shopping malls will be allowed to open.
5. In urban areas, standalone/ neighborhood shops and those in residential areas will be allowed to open.
The Ministry also clarified that e-commerce companies will be allowed to sell essential items only.
What Will Remain Closed?
1. Shops in multi-brand and single-brand malls outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities will not open.
2. Shops in market complexes, multi-brand, and single-brand malls within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities will not open.
3. Cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, restaurants, bars, and auditoriums, assembly halls will remain shut.
4. Salons and barbershops will remain closed
5. Boutiques inside malls cannot open.
6. Liquor shops will remain shut.
Currently, the total number of coronavirus cases in India stands at 27,892 with 872 deaths.
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