Covid-19 in India: Cases near 25,000 as states begin to open shops, WHO says maintain caution

The ministry went further to state that current figures put the recovery rate of Covid-19 patients in India at 20.88 per cent. Between Friday night and Saturday evening, India recorded a total of 56 coronavirus-related deaths.

Maharashtra accounts for 18 of these deaths, followed by Gujarat with 15, Madhya Pradesh with 9. At the same time, Delhi and West Bengal recorded three deaths each, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh two deaths each and Punjab and Kerala one death during the same period.

According to the latest figures, Maharashtra has the most number of cases (over 6,000), followed by Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, each of which has more than 2,000 confirmed cases. The state of Maharashtra has also witnessed the most Covid-19 casualties in comparison with other states.

MHA order on standalone shops, shops in residential areas

In an order late on Friday night, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made exceptions for shops selling non-essential goods in both urban and rural areas to reopen for business starting April 25. The order applies to standalone shops and shops in residential neighbourhoods, provided that they are registered under the Shops and Establishments Act and abide by a few instructions. The MHA order said that these shops have been allowed to operate with 50 per cent of their employee strength but they will have to follow social distancing norms and ensure that all staffers wear protective masks.

While the MHA clarified that the order is applicable to shops located inside and outside the purview of municipal corporations and municipalities, it also stated that shopping complexes and malls have not been given the permission to reopen for business as of yet. In a tweet on Saturday, the MHA spokesperson further clarified that restaurants, salons and barbershops have not been given permission to operate since they provide services and the order is aimed at reopening shops selling goods.

Apart from businesses included in Clause X, liquor stores across the country have also been exempted from this revival order. E-commerce platforms have also been denied to deliver non-essential goods for now.

States react to MHA order: What’s open, what’s not

Among states that took a cue from the MHA order to allow shops fitting the criteria to reopen for business are Nagaland, Odisha, Gujarat, Goa and Haryana. Meanwhile, Delhi has also implemented the order with the exception of its 95 containment zones.