The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed the opening of shops as part of the easing of lockdown restrictions announced on April 15 with neighbourhood 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 neighbourhood 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.