COVID-19: All you need to know about statewise lockdown, travel and curfew rules

India is witnessing a severe wave of COVID-19 in the country. As per experts, the current wave of COVID-10 is spreading faster than last year. Doctors say that while last year it was mostly the elderly who were infected with the COVID-19 virus, this time around, the patients are mostly children and pregnant women. 

India's daily new cases continue to rise and 1,15,736 new cases were registered in a span of 24 hours.

As the situation is fast deteriorating, the Central and state governments are taking steps at their own levels to ensure the virus is curtailed and people are well protected.

One of the biggest steps that the government is taking is ensuring that people get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. As per the Union Health Ministry, India has surpassed the US to become the fastest COVID-19 vaccinating country in the world. 

On an average daily 30,93,861 vaccine doses are administered to the people, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 8.70 crore

Cumulatively, 8,70,77,474 vaccine doses have been administered through 13,32,130 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am. More than 33 lakh vaccination doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

Here is a look at the measures revised across states to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Delhi

Night curfew has been imposed in Delhi from 10 pm to 5 am since April 6 and will be effective till April 30. No person will be allowed to board the Delhi metro or DTC after 10 pm. 

Only essential services are exempted from this. They too have to carry valid identification papers to prove their credentials as essential service providers. 

There is no restriction on the interstate and intrastate movement/transportation of essential/non-essential goods. No special permission or e-pass required for the same.

Everyone has to wear a mask in a public place for their own safety which includes wearing a mask while driving alone in a private vehicle also.

Odisha

A night curfew has been imposed in 10 districts of the state from 10 pm to 5 am. These districts include Sundergarh, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur.

All activities except essential services are prohibited during the night curfew period and violation of the order will invite punishment.

Tamil Nadu

Starting April 7, door-to-door fever surveillance in containment areas and screening centres for checking COVID-19 positive patients have been taken up in full swing.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan has announced a night lockdown between 8 pm and 6 am. Restaurants and hotels have been permitted to home deliver food during the curfew. The state government had also closed schools for students of classes 1 to 9, and colleges except for final-year students.

Negative RT-PCR tests which are not older than 72 hours are mandatory for all travellers coming to the state. It has also capped the number of people allowed at social gatherings at 100.

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra state government has imposed strict lockdown from April 4 till April 30. Only essential services have been allowed to carry on during the daytime including petrol pumps and cargo services.

All shops and establishments providing essential goods or services will be allowed to remain open.  

Construction sites will operate if there is an accommodation facility for workers.

Only, the takeaway of food items will be allowed at hotels and restaurants across the state.

Government offices will function but at 50% capacity. The rest of the employees will have to work from home.

Staffers working in the essential services-related departments, which help in pandemic management, will have to come to work.

Public transport will remain functional with restrictions. Auto-rickshaws and cabs will operate with a limited number of passengers.

Schools and colleges will remain open only for conducting Class X and XII exams.

Karnataka

Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru, the Karnataka government on Wednesday ordered that restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC will be implemented in the city. Restrictions will be imposed to contain the gathering of crowds. 

Bengaluru police on Wednesday decided to ban the use of swimming pools, gyms, party halls, and other such amenities in apartment buildings within the city.

Gujarat

20 main cities of Gujarat will be under night curfew from 8 pm to 6 am while all gatherings, rallies or meetings have been banned till April 30. These cities include - Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagarh, Gandhinagar, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Surat, Morvi, Patan, Godhra, Dahod, Gandhidham, Bharuch, Surendranagar, and Amreli. 

The Gujarat High Court held that all kinds of gatherings, including political functions, should be controlled or stopped.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh has temporarily suspended bus operations with Chhattisgarh till April 15 in view of rising COVID-19 cases.

The state government has ordered all government offices of the state to be open 5 days a week (Monday to Friday) for the next three months, with working hours from 10 am to 6 pm.

Punjab

The government of Punjab has imposed a night curfew across the state from 9 pm to 5 am till April 30 in the wake of rising coronavirus cases in the state. Political gatherings have also been banned by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh-led Congress government.

Punjab is among the states of maximum concern because of the high number of COVID-19 cases being reported there and its share in the number of deaths daily.

Uttarakhand

Since the Haridwar Kumbh is on, the Uttarakhand government has made carrying negative COVID-19 test (RT-PCR) reports mandatory for passengers travelling from 12 states, including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. 

People are advised to carry a negative RT-PCR test report - a test done 72 hours prior to the time of arrival to Uttarakhand state.

The Uttarakhand government has directed the authorities to take strict action against people violating the COVID-19 protocols.