As the number of cases is decreasing day by day, the state governments are proffering laxity in the Lockdown 2021 restrictions too early. Beyond the shadow of doubt, the end of the second wave is all because of the stringent rules and regulations imposed by the state government in their respective states during the time of lockdown. Delhi government has allowed restaurants to operate with 50% sitting capacity.
Delhi metro and bus may run with 50% filled seats in them and other transports like auto rickshaw or taxi are only allowed to carry 2 passengers at a time to maintain the social distance. However, if the government finds any increase rate in covid cases, it will again impose the restrictions with more strict rules.
The Uttar Pradesh Government decreased the night curfew time by 2 hours. Currently, the restrictions are from 7 PM – 7 AM, but from June 21, the night curfew will be imposed from 9 PM – 7 AM. Besides, restaurants and malls may be opened with 50% capacity with strict compliance of COVID-19 protocols. Street food stalls and public parks are also allowed to reopen with the mandatory instruction to install COVID help desks at these places.
According to the new guidelines of the Rajasthan government, there will be a curfew imposed from 5 PM – 5 AM every day except Sunday when the curfew will be from Saturday 5 pm to Monday 5am. Besides, restaurants may open at 50% capacity till 4 pm. Government and private offices in the state with less than 10 employees may operate 100 percent workforce, whereas 50 percent workforce is allowed in offices where the number of workers is over 10.
The Punjab government has allowed restaurants, cinema halls and gyms to operate at 50% capacity and the daily night curfew has shifted from 7 PM – 6 AM to 8 PM – 5 AM. Besides, weekend curfew will be imposed from 8 pm on Saturday up to 5 am on Monday across the state. However, the chief minister Amarinder Singh has also stated that the authorities shall also continue to ensure strict implementation of all the extant directives of the government on Covid-appropriate behaviour.
Many states, including Telangana, are still struggling with the proper new COVID guidelines but most of them have opened the places like Cinema halls, restaurants and cafes with the capacity of 50% people. However, many southern and eastern states are planning to increase the lockdown because of the increase in the number of cases in their respective states.
State governments are preparing themselves to handle the 3rd wave more effectively. As the country is facing a huge depression in the economy, reopening of lockdown 2021 wasn’t a bad move, but the government should ensure the proper and strict compliance of COVID protocols at every place to avoid disasters in the country.