Representational image of lockdown
Representational image of lockdown

The Centre on Wednesday issued an updated set of guidelines to the nationwide lockdown, which was extended up to May 3 on Tuesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In an official statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated, “Private vehicles for emergency services, including medical and veterinary care, and for procuring essential commodities are allowed for movement during the lockdown.”

“In such cases, one passenger besides the private vehicle driver can be permitted in the backseat in case of four-wheelers; however, in case of two-wheelers, only the driver of the vehicle is to be permitted,” the statement added.

“All personnel travelling to work and back in the exempted categories as per the instructions of the State/UT local authority,” the statement added.

The centre also issued a directive on workplace rules during the coronavirus lockdown.

Apart from carrying out mandatory temperature screening, the MHA directed to regularly sanitise and disinfecting the workplace premises.

“Sanitizers at convenient places across the work floor must be provided,” the MHA further directed.

“People coming to work must be put into shifts and the shifts must have a gap of an hour in between,” the MHA directives further added.

The MHA further said that there should be a gathering or meetings of over 10 people.

“People must be seated at least 6 feet away from each other and not more than 2-4 people are to be allowed in elevators,” the new directives further stated.

“These directives apply to only to those workplaces that are functional under the guidelines issued by the government,” the MHA added.