Commercial activities banned; essential services exempted in AP

Amaravati: The State government banned commercial activities, public and private transportation, except essential services. In exercise of the powers under Section 234 of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, the Governor issued certain measures for containment of COVID-19 through an order on Monday.

Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney stated that following the State-wide lockdown till March 31 to prevent onset of community transmission of the coronavirus, the government restricted movement of public.

However, certain offices and people engaged in essential services are allowed to commute in the State even during the total lockdown period.

Offices charged with law and order and magisterial duties, including offices of Collector, Joint Collector, Sub-Collector or RDO and MRO will be exempted.

The Police, health, urban local bodies, fire, electricity, water and municipal services, bank, ATM, print, electronic and social media offices will be allowed.

In addition to that, the food, groceries, milk, bread, fruit, vegetable, meat, fish and their transportation related activities and warehousing will also be allowed.

Hospitals, pharmacies, optical stores, pharmaceuticals manufacturing and their transportation related activities, telecommunication and internet services, including IT & lTeS, postal services, supply chain and related transportation of essential goods to be allowed.

At the same time, e-Commerce (delivery) of all essential goods including food, pharmaceutical and medical equipment, take away or home delivery restaurants and hotels, petrol pumps, LPG gas, Oil agencies, their go-downs and transportation related activities are exempted from lockdown.

Production and manufacturing units which require continuous process may continue to function after obtaining required permission from the Collector.

Manufacturing units engaged in production of essential commodities, private establishments that support the above services or are linked to the efforts for containment of COVID-19 will remain open, announced the Chief Secretary.

Other than those mentioned above, all services and public transportation came to standstill till March 31.