E-commerce companies
E-commerce companies are likely to resume full services across most parts of the country from Monday under the fourth phase of the lockdown that allows greater relaxations, although industry watchers say they are waiting for states’ decision on the matter.
According to the latest Union home ministry’s order, "all other activities will be permitted, except those which are specifically prohibited" under the fourth phase of the lockdown that ends on May 31.
However, in containment zones, only essential activities will be allowed. States and Union territories—based on their assessment of the situation—may prohibit certain other activities in various zones or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary.
Amphan to intensify into extremely severe cyclonic storm
Cyclone Amphan, which is in the category of a very-severe cyclonic storm, is most likely to intensify into an extremely severe cyclonic storm by Monday evening, attaining a maximum wind speed of 170-180kmph gusting to 200kmph. Cyclone Amphan formed in the Bay of Bengal last week.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into north Bay of Bengal along and off West Bengal-Odisha coasts from May 18 to 21.
The coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East and West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly are likely to experience light-to-moderate rain at many places with heavy downpour at isolated places on May 19.
In Odisha, NDRF teams have been deployed to Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj.
Economic activities to resume in Delhi
More economic activities are likely to resume in Delhi from Monday as the national capital, which is entirely in the red zone, is likely to come out of this category, with the Centre allowing states to delineate all three zones—Red, Green and Orange.
On the last day of lockdown 3.0 on Sunday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said a detailed plan to ease restrictions in the city will be announced on Monday, and claimed that the Centre’s latest guidelines for the fourth phase of COVID-19-induced lockdown are largely in line with the proposal sent by the Delhi government.
All 11 districts of the city are currently in Red Zone according to the Union health ministry, which has made life difficult for Delhiites due to greater restrictions on activities as compared with Orange and Green Zones. Among the economic activities likely to resume in Delhi from Monday are opening of markets and plying of buses, sources said.
Services, churches to resume in Italy
Shops, restaurants and salons are expected to reopen in Italy on Monday. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte had said, “We are confronting this risk, and we need to accept it, otherwise we would never be able to re-launch." Italy had been among the countries worst affected by the coronavirus.
Italy’s economy is re-emerging after over two months in lockdown.
Churches and museums are also expected to reopen. Churches will open with limited attendance. The shrines will be sanitised daily.
