The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on May 17 evening asked the ministries and departments under the central government and the state administration to continue with the ongoing lockdown measures till May 31.
An order issued by the NDMA said, “Considering the fact that the lockdown measures need to be implemented for a further period in the country to contain the spread of COVID-19, the NDMA, in exercise of powers under Section 6 (2) (i) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, hereby directs the ministries/ departments of Government of India, state governments and state authorities to continue the lockdown measures up to May 31.”
The authority further directed the National Executive Committee (NEC) to issue modifications in the guidelines as necessary, keeping in view the need to open up economic activities, while containing the spread of Novel Coronavirus.
In exercise of the powers under the said section, the NDMA had, on March 24, April 14 and May 1 directed the ministries/departments of Government of India, state governments and state authorities to take measures, so as to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country, which has been in force from March 25.
