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, โ€œPrivate vehicles for emergency services, including medical and veterinary care, and for procuring essential commodities are allowed for movement during the lockdown.โ€

โ€œIn 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,โ€ the statement added.

โ€œAll personnel travelling to work and back in the exempted categories as per the instructions of the State/UT local authority,โ€ 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.

โ€œSanitizers at convenient places across the work floor must be provided,โ€ the MHA further directed.

โ€œPeople coming to work must be put into shifts and the shifts must have a gap of an hour in between,โ€ the MHA directives further added.

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

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

โ€œThese directives apply to only to those workplaces that are functional under the guidelines issued by the government,โ€ the MHA added.