Covid-19: Govt allows shops selling books, electric fans and prepaid phone recharge

New Delhi: Shops selling educational books and electric fans, services of bedside attendants of senior citizens and public utilities, including recharge facilities for prepaid mobile phones have been allowed during the lockdown period.

The orders were issued by the Home Ministry on Tuesday night after receiving some queries with regard to exemptions of specific services and activities allowed through the guidelines issued so far.

The home ministry also said bread factories and flour mills located in urban areas can restart operations during the ongoing lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Shops selling educational books for students and electric fans will be allowed to open during the lockdown, which is scheduled to end on May 3.

Bedside attendants and care givers of senior citizens residing in their homes and public utilities, including recharge facilities for prepaid mobile connection will be allowed to offer services, the ministry said in its order.

Food processing units such as bread factories, milk processing plants, flour mills, dal mills etc., located in urban areas will be allowed to function during the lockdown.

Facilities for export or import such as pack houses, inspection and treatment facilities for seeds and horticulture produce, research establishments dealing with the agriculture and horticulture activities have been exempted from the purview of the lockdown.

Inter and intra-state movement of planting materials and honey bee colonies, honey and other beehive products will also be allowed to function, the order said.

Forest offices, forestry plantation and related activities, including silviculture operations, are allowed during the lockdown.

However, the ministry made it clear that social distancing for offices, workshops, factories and establishments must be ensured.

PTI