As reported yesterday, the nationwide lockdown has basically been extended until May 03rd. But a publication today sets out the first steps towards easing the lockdown and resuming business activities. The exception catalog of permitted activities has been significantly expanded.
India is following similar ideas that have been discussed and/or already introduced in other countries (including Germany): India aims to move from the national curfew to regional solutions based on regional case numbers on infection rates. Specifically, this means that From April 20th, decisions on the dismantling of restrictions can now be made individually for smaller geographical units (e.g. individual industrial areas, districts, etc.) based on the infection numbers by the respective federal/district authorities.
Just as regional relaxations are possible, the states/districts are also permitted to temporarily send entire districts, industrial areas, etc. into quarantine if a high regional concentration of infections occurs (“Corona Hot Spots”), including carrying out intensive tests in the affected areas.
Companies should prepare for the implementation of distance and hygiene rules, etc
Companies can expect to be able to gradually resume their activities in the coming weeks, subject to certain regulations. This primarily affects manufacturing companies.
Please refer to these instructions Annexure I and Annexure II, such as wearing face masks, taking employees' temperatures, equalizing lunch breaks, avoiding an overlap between the end and start of shifts, regular cleaning/disinfection, sufficient hand washing options, distances of at least 6 ft (2 m) between employees, etc.
It is important to note that all employees who are now deployed must be provided with health insurance (if they do not already have insurance).
Compliance is monitored by the authorities and sanctions are imposed in the event of a violation.
It is recommended that companies now immediately develop their own concepts for implementing these rules so that they can then be quickly coordinated with the local authorities at the appropriate time.
However, several companies in the automotive industry have already announced that even if production activities are allowed to resume immediately, they will still need several days to adjust to the rules or would even prefer to wait for the general end of the lockdown
Division of districts into “green” or “red” infection zones
Today a list was created based on the number of infections, according to which all districts in India were divided into so-called “hot spots” and “non-hot spots” (Green Zone / Red Zone); please refer here. This list is updated regularly based on future infection rates.
Companies now have the chance to check whether their business activities are in the red or green zone. By business activities, we expressly refer not only to company locations (offices/production halls, etc.), but also to customer locations, projects, construction sites, etc.
Retail trade is permitted again in compliance with, among other things, distance rules
The retail trade of food and other relevant goods (not only in supermarkets, but now also through small traders / street traders) will be permitted again from April 20th, provided that the distance rules of 2 meters and the wearing of face masks and hygiene regulations (hand washing, disinfection) are adhered to ) be respected.
Construction projects may continue
Any construction project outside Municipal Corporation or Municipalities as well as in Industrial Estates may be continued or resumed. Likewise, construction projects in the field of renewable energies and all other construction projects, provided that workers can be accommodated on the construction site (“in situ construction”).
