On Sunday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) ordered to continue the nationwide lockdown until May 31, the fourth extension of the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 infectious disease. Lockdown 4.0 will start from Monday and last until May 31 according to the Ministry of Home.
The Center will also issue new guidelines for the fourth lockdown phase with significant relaxation in the offing.
The nationwide 4.0 lockdown will end on May 31, said a National Disaster Management (NDMA) order that followed similar announcements by Punjab, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu already.
The authorities further directed concerned departments to issue changes to the guidelines as necessary, keeping in mind the need to open up economic activity while containing the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus, it said.
The extension came during significant relaxation being introduced across the country in non-containment zones. The order came as the 3.0 lockdown would end midnight on Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday that the nationwide lockdown of coronavirus will be extended to a fourth phase with "totally different" rules, to be announced before the current one expires on May 17.
The nationwide lockdown first announced by the Prime Minister on March 24 was slated to end on May 17. Modi had announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown on March 24. He extended the lockdown on May 14, until May 3.
On 1 May, with some relaxations, the MHA further extended the lockdown period to two weeks after 4 May. Recently the Central Government announced a package of Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus to fight COVID-19.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will soon issue a new set of guidelines related to what is permitted and restricted in various zones. The new guidelines will be based on last week's suggestions made to the home ministry by chief ministers of all States.
