Uttar Pradesh: All markets can open, but on fixed schedule to avoid rush

LUCKNOW: Lockdown-4 has allowed greater freedom to people in Uttar Pradesh as the government has allowed opening of markets, shops, offices and industrial activity with certain caveats. Movement of all persons and vehicles will remain prohibited under section 144 of the IPC between 7pm and 7am.
Restricts will continue in containment areas with the government doing away with the gradation of green, orange and red zones.
In urban areas, a containment zone is a 250 m radius around a single infected person or the colony, whichever is smaller or a radius of 500 m around a cluster of infected persons with a 250 m radius buffer zone.
Lockdown-4 will be applicable till May 31 and largely follows the guidelines issued by the Centre on Saturday. In UP, the government has allowed opening up of all shops and establishments like printing press and dry cleaners outside containment areas.
Markets will also open, though on fixed days to ensure that not all of them open together. The schedule would be decided by each district administration in consultation with the local traders’ bodies. Street vendors and hawkers have also been allowed to start their work. Weekly markets will remain suspended till the end of lockdown.
The guidelines say that no shop should sell to anyone not wearing a face mask. Meanwhile, all other precautions like social distancing, use of sanitizers and masks should be observed by all shop owners, vendors, etc Restaurants can only function for home delivery of food but will not be able to serve on premises. Bars will also remain closed.
Sweet shops to open for sales
Sweet shops have been allowed to open in order to make sales but permission has not been given to serve food at the shop. Weddings are also allowed as baraat ghars can open with prior permission. However, not more than 20 people can attend even as no other social, religious, cultural or sports event can be held till the end of the lockdown.
All kinds of industrial activity outside containment zones has been allowed. For this, permission has also been given for movement of goods vehicles, both across the state and international borders. With permission from the health department, nursing homes and private hospital can restart their emergency services and essential surgeries. The main vegetable and fruit mandi will remain open from 4am to 7am while retail sale can take place between 6am and 9am.
Meanwhile, till further orders or the end of the lockdown on May 31, air travel, Metro rail services, schools, colleges, coaching centres, restaurants for dine-in services, cinema halls, shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools and bars will remain shut.
Government has also mandated that persons above the age of 65 years, those with co-morbidity, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years should remain indoors unless there is a medical emergency. Permission has also not been granted for interstate movement of passenger buses or other passenger vehicles.