Most citizens support lockdown relaxations in Red Zones but want stringent lockdown to continue in the 14 high virus load districts

12th May 2020, New Delhi: The Government is getting ready to take a decision on how to proceed after Lockdown 3.0 finishes on the 17th May. With people starting to believe that they will have to learn to co-exist along with this virus for a long time, LocalCircles conducted a survey to get a citizen pulse on what should happen post May 17th in regards to the lockdown. The survey received more than 21,000 votes from people residing in 277 districts of India.

Citizens were asked for the 14 high virus load districts that are also amongst the red zones with over 500 COVID-19 active cases, what should be the lockdown relaxation approach. In response, 45% said full lockdown should continue for two more weeks in these districts. 19% said lockdown should be significantly relaxed and all offices, markets, businesses to be allowed to operate with social distancing norms, while 35% said lockdown should be somewhat relaxed and only offices at 33% capacity and standalone shops should be permitted to open.

45% citizens in favour of full lockdown to continue for 2 weeks after May 17th in the top 14 high virus load districts

In the survey conducted on May 3rd, 74% citizens had said that the high virus load districts should be kept under complete lockdown and no relaxations should be given there. This number has come down to 45% as on May 12th.

Percentage of citizens in favour of 2 additional weeks of complete lockdown in high virus load districts drops from 74% to 45% from May 3rd to May 12th

Many citizens have also raised concerns about the approach undertaken to unlock high virus load districts. People are in support of relaxations in the green and orange zones as well as in low virus load red zones but are greatly concerned about how some high virus load districts are being treated at par with other red zone districts in terms of relaxations. High virus load districts as identified by the Niti Aayog included 14 districts of India where the intensity and number of cases of COVID-19 are more than 500. They include Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Pune, Indore, Thane, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Surat, Kolkata, Agra, Hyderabad and Bhopal.

It must be mentioned that many citizens have specifically stated that given the urgent need to restart economic activity, a close watch must be kept on all these districts and as soon as they fall into regular red zone, category, the relaxations should start applying.

The next question asked citizens for other 115+ red zones (beyond the high virus load districts), what should be the lockdown relaxation approach. 24% said lockdown should be significantly relaxed and all offices, markets, businesses to be allowed to operate with social distancing norms, while 33% said lockdown should be only somewhat relaxed and only offices at 33% capacity and standalone shops should be permitted to open. 16% said full lockdown should continue for two more weeks. 3% citizens did not have an opinion.

81% citizens support lockdown relaxations with social distancing norms at offices, shops, etc. after May 17th in the red zone (except high virus load) districts

This means that 81% citizens support lockdown relaxations with social distancing norms at offices, shops, etc. after May 17th in the red zone districts, except the ones which have a high virus load.

Citizens were also asked if the Government opens up public transportation system, i.e. allows airlines, trains and buses to operate, how do they foresee your personal travel in the coming 3 months given the COVID-19 situation. In response, 9% said they will not travel at all and 72% said they will not travel unless it is an absolute emergency. 11% said they will surely travel while 4% said they will likely travel.

Only 15% citizens say they will likely travel in the next 3 months if Government opens up public transportation systems i.e. flights, trains and buses

On May 11th, the Ministry of Railways announced commencement of 15 trains starting May 12th and a schedule was published. Basis inputs received in the poll, it appears that while there may be an initial spike as people try to return to their hometowns or places of residence, not many are planning travel in the next 3 months.

LocalCircles will be escalating these findings to key stakeholders in the Central Government and various State Governments so they can be considered and if found fit, be incorporated in the lockdown approach undertaken post May 17th.