The Centre on Friday asked states to allow e-tailers, wholesalers and delivery partners to operate even where Section 144 been imposed amid the coronavirus outbreak. An order in this regard was issued by the union consumer affairs ministry after discussing the matter in detail in an inter-ministerial meeting held here. Several state governments have imposed prohibitory orders like Section 144 and mandated closure of malls and shopping places in order to ensure social distancing in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases.
India's Cases Rise To 223
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has confirmed that India has 223 cases of COVID-19 so far, 23 of which have recovered and 4 have died. India has seen a rise of 28 cases since the Ministry's morning update.
New cases were reported in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal
Italian National's Death Cannot Be Counted As COVID: MOHFW
Lav Agarwal, Join Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a press conference stated that the Italian national's death in Jaipur will not be considered as a COVID-19 death as he had recovered and was discharged. He visited the hospital for other complications and died of a cardiac arrest.
The Health Ministry in a press conference urged people to not believe in fake news and support the PIB in fighting misinformation.
PM Modi conducted a video conference with all the state ministers to understand how to tackle Coronavirus at 4 pm on March 20, 2020
Delhi to shut down malls excluding the ones with groceries and pharmacy stores in them: CM Kejriwal
Stock Markets Exempted From Shut Down In Mumbai
The Mumbai shutdown till March 31 exempts stock exchanges, clearing corporations, depositories, stock brokers, sebi registered participants operating through these institutions will be exempted
Maharashtra Includes Banks, Watering Services, Grocery Stores In Essential Services
Following Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's advice, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has issued a notification stating the list of services that are included in essential services while asking all the other organizations to follow a strict mandate and not think of this as a vacationary period.
Maharashtra Orders 100% Shut Down Of Offices In Cities
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered a 100% shut down in private offices in regions of Mumbai, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nagpur till March 31. Some essential services such as groceries and public transport will not be shut. Government offices will work at 25% attendance.
Shops and restaurants, cafes have to shut down, too. Offices that cannot carry work from home should immediately shut down. Thackeray also appealed to the public that this is not a vacation and should not flock around and crowd places.
From the 52 cases positive in Maharashtra, 5 have recovered and one has died.