Bengaluru: With a view to easing the burden citizens are forced to face due to the lockdown owing to coronavirus, the centre has okayed reopening of shops and non-essential services from Saturday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a clarification that all shops in rural areas except shopping malls will be opened. In its clarification, it has also said that markets and market complexes, shopping malls in urban areas are not allowed to open. It has added that e-commerce companies are only allowed for essential goods and the sale of liquor is prohibited.

 


As reported by Republic TV, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Friday night allowed all shops under the Shops and Establishment Act to reopen from April 25 amid the Coronavirus pandemic. This includes shops in residential complexes and market complexes. However, the order states that the shops will function at 50 per cent strength and precautions against COVID-19 — wearing masks and social distancing — is mandatory.

More on the lockdown: 

It was on March 24 that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that there would be a lockdown in the entire country. The lockdown was extended again till May 3 with a view to contain the spread of the virus. 

However, all thanks to the nosediving economic activities, the Modi government did a rethink to relax the rules. The reopening of shops is a result of this thought. 

Due to the coronavirus lockdown, the country has managed to keep the numbers under control to a great extent. 

Social distancing and staying indoors is a great weapon in fighting the spread of the virus. 

The PM will also hold another round of talks with chief ministers on the issue of second extension of the lockdown.