Telangana - COVID-19 – The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897- LOCKDOWN – Orders – Issued.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT G.O.Ms.No.45 Dated:22.03.2020 Read the following: 1. The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 2. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 3. G.O.Rt.No.4, Revenue (D.M-II) Dept. Dated.14.03.2020 4. G.O.Rt.No.6, Revenue (D.M-II) Dept. Dated.19.03.2020 5. G.O.Ms.No.13, HM&FW (D) Dept. Dated.21.03.2020 ***** Whereas the State Government is satisfied that the State of Telangana is threatened with the spread of Covid-19, which has already been declared as a pandemic by World Health Organization, and it is therefore necessary to take certain further emergency measures to prevent and contain the spread of virus. The Government in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 2 of the The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, read with all other enabling provisions of the The Disaster Management Act, 2005, hereby notify lockdown in the entire State of Telangana with immediate effect till 31st March, 2020, prescribing the following regulations and measures during the said period: 1. All state borders shall be sealed other than for movement of essential and perishable commodities. 2. All public transport services including TSRTC buses, SETWIN, Hyderabad Metro, taxis, auto-rickshaws etc. will not be permitted. However, transport of passengers for accessing emergency medical services shall be permitted. Plying of private vehicles shall be restricted only to the extent of procuring essential commodities and activities permitted under this order. 3. Operation of all interstate bus and transport services including those by private operators shall stand suspended. 4. Every person who is required to observe home quarantine shall strictly observe the same failing which he/she will be liable for penal action and shifted to government quarantine. 5. Residents shall stay at home and come out only for permitted activities while strictly observing social distancing norms. In any case not more than one person will be permitted excluding the person driving the vehicle. 6. Any congregation of more than 5 persons in public places is prohibited. 7. All shops, commercial establishments, offices, factories, workshops, godowns etc. shall close their operations. However, production and manufacturing units which require continuous process such as pharmaceuticals, API etc. may function. Further, manufacturing units engaged in production of essential commodities like dal and rice mills, food and related units, dairy units, feed and fodder units etc. will also be permitted to operate. -2- 8. Government offices, shops and establishments permitted to operate during this period shall take steps to ensure social distancing such as through painting of foot marks at distances of 3 feet from each other near check out counters. They shall also ensure proper sanitation in their premises and ensure availability of hand sanitizers/hand washing facilities. 9. The following shops/establishments providing essential goods and services shall be excluded from the above restrictions: a) Banks/ATMs and related activities. b) Print and electronic media c) IT and ITeS, including telecom, postal and internet Services d) Supply chain and transport of essential commodities e) E-Commerce (delivery) of essential goods including food, pharmaceutical and medical equipment f) Sale of food items, groceries, milk, bread, fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, fish and their transportation and warehousing activities g) Take-away/ home delivery at restaurants h) Hospitals, optical stores, diagnostic centres, pharmaceuticals manufacturing and their transportation i) Petrol pumps, LPG gas, oil agencies, their godowns and their related transport operations. j) All security services including those provided by private agencies. k) Private establishments that support the provisioning of essential services or the efforts for containment of COVID-19 l) Airports and related services 10. The following Departments/Offices of the State Government shall be fully functional: - a) District Collectorate/Divisional offices/Mandal Offices b) Police c) Health d) Urban Local Bodies/Panchayatraj institutions e) Fire f) Taxation, Excise, Commercial Tax, Transport, Stamps and Registration g) Electricity and water supply h) Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Agricultural Marketing i) Civil Supplies j) Regulatory departments like Pollution Control Board, Legal Metrology, Drug Control Administration etc k) All Central Government departments related to the above. -3- 11. For the functioning of other Government offices separate order will be issued by the Chief Secretary. 12. In view of the hardships due to lockdown, all 87.59 lakhs food security cardholders in the state would be given 12 kg of rice per person amounting 3.58 lakh tonnes at a cost of Rs 1103 Crores. 13. Further all food security card holding families would be given an one time support of Rs.1500/- to meet the expenditure on other essential commodities such as dal, vegetables and salt etc. at an estimated cost of Rs.1314 Crores. 14. All the Government as well as private establishments shall make payments of wages/salaries fully to the workers/employees including those working under contract and outsourcing basis during the lockdown period. Any violation will be viewed seriously and will invite penal action under The Epidemics Disease Act 1897. 15. During the lockdown period, steps will be taken to ensure that there is no disruption in the supply of essential commodities to the people. 16. All Educational institutions and education department activities including spot valuation will be closed till 31st March 2020. All examinations scheduled during this period stand postponed. 17. All Anganwadi Centres shall remain closed till 31st March 2020. Children and pregnant women/lactating mothers will be provided take home ration during this period. 18. All pregnant women who are expected to deliver during the months of March – April 2020 will be listed, monitored and assisted by Medical staff to ensure institutional delivery. 19. All elective surgeries shall be re-scheduled in all private and Government hospitals to enhance the availability of health care facilities to COVID-19 patients. 20. All the Government departments shall take definite measures to ensure that people do not gather or accumulate in large numbers. For example, paddy procurement shall be decentralized to village / gram panchayat level, by opening more procurement centres, by engaging IKP Groups, PACS and Agricultural Marketing Committees. The arrival of paddy to procurement centre shall be regulated by issuing time slot coupons. 21. All the District Collectors, District Superintendents of Police, Commissioners of Police, Municipal Commissioners of Corporations and other competent authorities in respect of the concerned institutions, organizations and establishments are hereby authorized and directed to take all necessary measures for enforcement and implementation of the aforesaid regulations and measures. -4- 22. Any person, institution , organization violating any provision of these regulations shall be dealt under the provisions of The Epidemics Diseases Act 1897, The Disaster Management Act 2005, regulations issued vide Ref 5th cited and other relevant Acts. 23. No suit or legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under these regulations. (BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF TELANGANA) SOMESH KUMAR CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT To The Special Chief Secretary to Government Health Medical & Family Welfare Department The Special Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries/Secretaries/HoDs The Director General of Police, Telangana, Hyderabad All the Collectors & District Magistrates in the State All the Commissioners of Police in the State All the Superintendents of Police in the State The Commissioner, Printing, Stationary & Stores purchases (printing wing) (With a request to publish the G.O in the extraordinary issue of Telangana State Gazette) The Commissioner & E.O Prl Secretary, I&PR Dept. Copy to: The P.S to Minister HM & FW The P.S to Chief Secretary to Government The P.S Secretary to Chief Minister SF / SC // FORWARDED BY ORDER // SECTION OFFICER