Coronavirus: Karnataka relaxes more lockdown restrictions; shops open up

Having partially lifted the coronavirus lockdown restrictions, Karnataka on Thursday allowed some more services and activities, including shops selling dry fruits, ice cream and juice.

In an addendum to his Wednesday order, Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar added over half-a-dozen activities to resume amid the lockdown.

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Under the ‘supply of essential goods’ category, the government has included dry fruits, ice cream and juice shops (take-away only).

In urban areas, food processing units such as bread factories, milk processing plants, flour mills, dal mills etc have been permitted.

Also now, recharge facilities for prepaid mobile connections will be available.

Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases

In the social sector, the government has added bed-side attendants and caregivers of senior citizens residing at home as a permissible activity.

In a respite for students, shops that sell educational books are permitted to stay open.

To help citizens beat the summer seat, the government has decided to open up shops that sell electric fans.

In the financial sector, non-banking financial institutions including housing finance companies, micro-financials with “bare minimum staff” and credit cooperative societies are allowed to function.

Following is the list:

* NBFCs - housing finance companies, micro-financials with “bare minimum staff” and credit cooperative societies.
* Dry fruits, ice cream and juice shops (take-away only).
* Shops selling educational books for students.
* Shops of electric fans.
* Construction in rural areas to include water supply and sanitation, laying/erection of power transmission lines, telecom optical fibre and cables.
* Construction in urban areas where workers are available on site and no workers are required to be brought in from outside.
* Bed-side attendees, caregivers for senior citizens.
* Recharge facilities for prepaid mobile connections.
* Food processing units in urban areas such as bread factories, milk processing, flour/dal mills etc.
* Forestry plantation and related activities, including silviculture.
* Harvesting, processing, packaging, sale and marketing of bamboo, coconut, areca nut, cocoa, spices.
* Collection, harvesting and processing of minor forest produce/non-timber forest produce by STs and other forest dwellers.
* Facilities for export/import such as pack houses, inspection and treatment of seeds and horticulture produce.
* Agriculture, horticulture research establishments.
* Inter/Intra state movement of planting materials, honey bee colonies, honey and other beehive products.