Lockdown measures taken by the Government of India to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19, caused by a novel virus, the coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory illness that has become a pandemic. This virus is so dangerous that it can spread through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The other factor is that many carriers of the disease may be asymptomatic so they may not take the precautions necessary to not spread the disease. This pandemic has reached every continent except Antarctica, reporting more than 30 lakhs confirmed cases around the world and mortality of above 2 lakhs, as on 26th April 2020. As COVID-19 spreads across continents, all countries are working around the clock to prevent the pandemic from wreaking havoc on displaced populations. Under this prevailing circumstance, a discussion on this topic would be of great help for the one who indents to understand the measures taken by the Government of India due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though this virus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person, study reveals that individuals can also be infected from touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and touching their face. The COVID-19 virus may survive on surfaces for several hours, but simple disinfectants can kill it. Increasing numbers of confirmed diagnoses, including in healthcare professionals, has indicated that person-to-person spread of COVID-19 is occurring. Older people, and the people with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, appear to be more at risk of developing severe symptoms.

Considering the gravity of the situation, our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown on 24th March 2020, initially for 21 days and then extended upto 3rd May 2020, limiting the movement of the people of India as a preventive measure against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in India. As there are no specific vaccines or treatments currently available for COVID-19, the only measures to contain the virus are to follow the COVID-19 protocol, i.e. Isolation, Quarantine, Social Distancing, wearing of mask etc… as and when advised, circulated and implemented by the Government of India. Government of India, through its various Ministries, issued circulars, advisories, notifications, etc. from time to time to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Effective implementation of these advisories, circulars and notifications issued by the Government of India would definitely yield great result in controlling the spread of this killer virus. However, it is apparently difficult to find out all these advisories, circulars and notifications issued by the Government of India to contain the spread of COVID-19 in one place. It is, therefore, become difficult to keep track of above advisories issued by Government of India unless it is properly compiled and presented. The compilation of these measures at one place will certainly be beneficial and useful for the public at large.
With the above idea, a humble effort is being made to compile the information relating to COVID-19 and presented with a write-up so as to make it available for ready reference and use of all segment of people/sectors of the country so that the right information can easily be made available to the concerned.

Relevant provisions of Disaster Management Act, Indian Penal Code and other relevant provisions of law, especially with respect to offences and penalties for violation of lockdown measures, are mentioned and discussed in this write-up. Moreover, it is also referred and discussed about the proposition of law set out in the judicial pronouncements; and, the extract of the relevant provisions and judicial pronouncements are also incorporated for ready reference. Apart from above, an endeavour is also made to prepare a summary of various measures taken by the Government of India to reduce the burden of Indian citizen owing to the unprecedented imposition of lockdown which affected the economy of the nation in a stand still mode and entire population of the country in a panic mode.

I hope and wish that the idea of collecting and compiling important and relevant information of COVID-19 will be useful to all sections of the society.

The discussion on the topic is mainly divided into following two parts :-

I. EXISTING LOCKDOWN PERIOD
II. POST LOCKDOWN PERIOD

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