Lockdown 5.0: Focus on only 11 cities now, religious places-gym discounts possible

- The fourth phase of the lockdown will be completed on the 21st, the reports of the fifth phase were considered only speculation by the Home Ministry.

- In the fifth phase, schools, colleges, malls and multiplexes will remain closed, religious places will be opened in Karnataka: Yeddyurappa

New delhi date. 27 May 2020, Wednesday

As the fourth phase of the lockdown imposed in the country due to the Corona crisis is nearing completion, there is curiosity among the countrymen as to whether the lockdown will continue. Amid the belief that some states may favor prolonging the lockdown as corona cases are still on the rise in the country, sources said the central government is preparing for the fifth phase of the lockdown. However, at this stage, the government will focus more on the 11 cities most affected by Corona, and relief may be extended to the rest of the country. However, the central government has officially termed Lockdown 2.0 as a rumor at the present stage.

Amid discussions on what will be the situation in the country from June 1, the fourth phase of the lockdown, which is being completed in the country amid the Koro crisis, will focus on 11 cities, including Ahmedabad in Gujarat and Surat, Mumbai in Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra. , Thane, Delhi, Jaipur in Rajasthan, Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Bengaluru in Karnataka, Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Kolkata in West Bengal. Out of the total cases of corona in the country, 70% cases are in these 11 cities alone. Even in the five cities of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Pune and Kolkata, the figure is as high as 50 per cent.

The fifth phase of the lockdown may allow the center to open religious sites, but the terms and conditions will apply. Celebrations of any kind of fairs or festivals will not be allowed at religious places. At the same time, more people cannot gather. Wearing masks and social distance will be mandatory for people.

Salon and gym openings may also be allowed in all zones except the content zone during lockdown 3.0. However, no school, college-university will be allowed to open even at this stage. At the same time, malls and multiplexes will also be kept closed, sources said. Lockdown 2.0 may allow for more people to attend weddings and funerals. The fifth phase of the lockdown could be two weeks, according to sources.

The Union Home Ministry, meanwhile, clarified that there were no facts in the claims being made by some media outlets about the lockdown. The outline of the lockdown is determined by the National Disaster Management Authority.

Amid speculation of a fifth phase of lockdown in the country, Karnataka Chief Minister Yeddyurappa has said that religious places in the state will be reopened after May 31. We are going to open temples, mosques, churches in the state. However, he added that he would wait for Prime Minister Modi's decision to open religious places, after which a decision would be taken. Religious places including temples, mosques and churches have been closed in the country for almost two months after the lockdown was declared on March 8.

A media outlet, while publishing news on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio program 'Mann Ki Baat', expressed the possibility that the Prime Minister may announce the fifth phase of lockdown in his popular program on May 31. A Home Ministry spokesperson clarified the situation, saying "this is just speculation, which is baseless." The spokesperson tweeted that it was not appropriate to link the speculation with the home ministries.

It is to be mentioned that for the first time in the country, a lockdown was announced from 9th March to prevent the outbreak of Corona virus. The nationwide lockdown limit has been increased four times since then. The lockdown, announced on March 9, was for 21 days and lasted till April 15. Then the second lockdown was announced till May 9, the third till May 15 and the fourth till May 31.