New Delhi: In a late-night order on Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) allowed the opening of shops as part of the easing of lockdown restrictions announced on April 15 with neighborhood shops and others being allowed within the city and all shops except those in malls allowed outside the municipal limits with 50 percent strength of workers.

The neighborhood and standalone shops, including those selling garments, mobile phones, hardware, and stationery items have been allowed to open but those located in market places, malls, and COVID-19 hotspot and containment zones, will continue to remain shut till May 3.

In rural areas, all shops, except those in single and multi-brand shopping malls, are allowed to open.

The Union Home Ministry also said malls, liquor and cigarette shops, sale of non-essential items through e-commerce platforms continue to remain shut.

The restaurants, hair salons, and barber shops will remain shut as these render services and they do not fall under the shop category.

Amending its April 15 order, Ajay Bhalla the Union Home Secretary said in the Friday night order that "all shops, including neighborhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State and UT" will be allowed to open during the lockdown.

The ministry also said shops located in registered markets located outside the municipal corporations and municipalities can open after following the drill of social distancing and wearing of masks but with 50 percent of strength.

However, single and multi-brands shall continue to remain closed in these areas also.

"All shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State/UT, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes, except shops in multi-brand and single-brand malls, outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, with 50 percent strength of workers with wearing of masks and social distancing being mandatory" will be allowed to function, the order said.

In a statement on Saturday, the home ministry said the order implies that in rural areas, all shops, except those in shopping malls are allowed to open.

In urban areas, all standalone shops, neighborhood shops, and shops in residential complexes are allowed to open.

Shops in markets and market complexes and shopping malls are not allowed to open.

"It is clarified that sale by e-commerce companies will continue to be permitted for essential goods only," the order said and also added that sale of liquor and other items continues to be prohibited as specified in the national directives for COVID-19 management.

The ministry said that liquor shops were given license under the Excise Act of the states and the establishments thrown open from Saturday were covered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the states.

"As specified in the consolidated revised guidelines, these shops will not be permitted to open in areas, whether rural or urban, which are declared as containment zones by respective States and Union Territories," the statement said.

The nationwide lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 in a bid to combat the Coronavirus pandemic. Later it was further extended till May 3.