India: Officials extending enhanced COVID-19 controls in northern Indian states through at least May 31 /update 37

Event

Authorities in northern Indian states continue to adjust controls amid ongoing COVID-19 activity. Curfews and limits on nonessential activity are active in all/most north Indian states. Authorities prohibit nonessential activity during curfews; officials usually permit cargo transit, specific industries, workplaces requiring night operations, and some transport services to continue. However, delivery services are largely limited to essential items. The strictest curbs will continue in containment zones with a significant number of COVID-19 cases. Such areas typically face additional entry and exit controls, as well as stay-home orders. Expansion and extension of such measures are likely in the coming weeks.

As of May 24, existing or planned measures include:

• Chandigarh: All nonessential shops remain closed. Private offices must use telecommuting to the extent possible; government offices and transport services will function at 50-percent capacity. Ongoing 18:00-05:00 nightly curfews and weekly curfews from 18:00 Fridays to 05:00 Mondays will continue until further notice. During curfews, residents must stay home unless seeking or providing essential or emergency services. Those leaving their homes must apply for a movement pass online. Delivery services are limited to essential items only. Entrants must submit a self-declaration form via the COVA Punjab portal before arrival. Asymptomatic domestic passengers entering the state are not required to undergo any testing or quarantine.

• Chhattisgarh: Officials are enforcing modified restrictions across the state until at least 06:00 May 31. Most nonessential establishments are closed; essential stores and permitted businesses may open up to 17:00 with manpower limitations. The strictest curbs will apply on Sundays when only essential services may function; deliveries must be limited to essential items on Sundays. Variations in commercial restrictions are likely between districts. All air and rail entrants must produce negative results of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure or undergo self-paid on-arrival testing. All entrants must quarantine at home for a week; symptomatic entrants and those with positive tests will undergo quarantine at home or in a designated facility, based on medical assessment. Those leaving the state within 72 hours of arrival are exempt from quarantine.

• Delhi: Authorities in Delhi have extended restrictions on business activity, gatherings, and transport in the national capital region through at least 05:00 May 31; further extensions are possible. Officials are suspending all metro rail services through 05:00 May 31. Residents must remain at home unless leaving for essential purposes, such as seeking medical treatment or working in essential industries. Authorities require most individuals to apply for movement passes online before leaving their residences. Government workers and other essential employees must carry valid identification instead. Most businesses and nonessential retail outlets will remain closed; delivery services are limited to essential items only. A rule on mandatory facemask-wearing in public places also applies to private vehicles; those traveling alone in such vehicles must also wear facemasks. Asymptomatic domestic passengers entering the state must quarantine at home for seven days. However, travelers from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Telangana states must produce negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before arrival. Passengers from mentioned high-risk areas entering without test results must undergo a 14-day home or institutional quarantine. Those on official trips, as well as those holding test results or proof of completing vaccination, are eligible for shortened or quarantine exemption.

• Haryana: Officials are extending an ongoing nightly curfew 18:00-05:00 through May 31; extensions are likely. During curfew hours, delivery services are limited to essential items. People may exit homes for essential purposes; government workers must carry identification cards. Permitted industries and workplaces must obtain movement passes online for employees. Other curbs active during non-curfew hours include the closure of large retail centers and limiting operational hours of some shops to 07:00-12:00 daily on alternative days according to local rules. Asymptomatic domestic travelers entering the state do not require testing or quarantine.

• Himachal Pradesh: Authorities are imposing a ban on most nonessential activity statewide through May 26. While nonessential establishments, including workplaces, must close, public movement is allowed. Transport services are available with limited capacity. Officials advise residents to stay home to the extent possible; unauthorized public gatherings involving more than five people are banned. The government mandates all entrants to register online beforehand and provide a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival. If a passenger does not provide a negative test, they must quarantine at their residence for 14 days. Arrivals from high-risk domestic locations must undergo a week of institutional quarantine followed by seven days of home quarantine. Residents of Himachal Pradesh returning to the state within 48 hours of exit may avail exemptions from quarantine.

• Jammu and Kashmir: Officials have extended enhanced restrictions statewide through 07:00 May 31. Authorities are prohibiting markets from operating, and public transport services remain suspended. Private vehicle movement is allowed. All passengers entering the state must undergo mandatory rapid testing upon arrival unless they hold negative results of an RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours before entry; symptomatic travelers may require additional testing and quarantine at a designated facility. Asymptomatic visitors exiting the territory within 96 hours of arrival are exempt from quarantine.

• Ladakh: Authorities in Leh District have extended a ban on all nonessential activity and movement through 07:00 June 7; residents must obtain a movement pass online to exit homes unless carrying identification cards proving employment in essential sectors. Shops selling vegetables, baked goods, and other essential rations may operate 08:00-13:00. Other retail stores may open three days weekly according to product category. Other ongoing measures in the district ban non-emergency activities on weekends until further notice. Entrants to the union territory must carry negative results of a COVID-19 test obtained within 96 hours before arrival. Other entrants must undergo testing upon entry, as well as a mandatory quarantine for at least seven days in a designated facility or residence, depending on their medical assessment.

• Madhya Pradesh: Authorities are banning all nonessential activity until further notice. The government had earlier ordered nightly curfews in urban centers and high-risk border districts. Statewide curbs on nonessential movement during weekends will continue until further notice. Asymptomatic domestic passengers entering the state are not required to undergo any testing or quarantine except if arriving from Maharashtra State. Travelers from Maharashtra must produce negative results of a COVID-19 test; the test must be taken 72 hours before departure if flying to Bhopal and 48 hours before departure if flying to Indore. Border districts mandate travelers from Maharastra State to complete a seven-day home quarantine. Interstate public bus services remain suspended until further notice.

• Punjab: Authorities are implementing an 18:00-05:00 nightly curfew until further notice; a weekly curfew is also active from 18:00 Fridays to 05:00 Mondays. Residents must obtain a movement pass online to exit homes. Permitted industries and delivery services are exempt from the controls. Additional curbs applicable through May 31 include closing nonessential shops, limiting occupancy of four-wheeled private vehicles to two, and mandating pre-arrival testing for interstate travelers. Officials are advising against nonessential interstate travel. All entrants must register beforehand on the COVA Punjab portal and submit negative results of an RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of entry. Passengers may alternatively carry proof of completing at least one vaccination dose at least two weeks before arrival. Asymptomatic travelers to the state are subject to a mandatory 14-day home quarantine; participants of large gatherings must also undergo five days of home quarantine. International arrivals must undergo institutional quarantine. Symptomatic individuals may require prolonged quarantine at medical facilities. Travelers with negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test results obtained within 72 hours before arrival and domestic travelers leaving the state within 72 hours of arrival are exempt.

• Rajasthan: Officials are extending a ban on all nonessential activity through 05:00 June 8. Movement of public, private, and private-hire vehicles is prohibited except with special permission; non-emergency travel between administrative units such as cities, districts, and states is also banned. Authorities are currently imposing a 12:00-05:00 daily curfew statewide. Grocery shops may remain open until 17:00; food delivery services may operate through 20:00 daily. An additional weekend curfew is also active from 12:00 on Fridays to 05:00 on Mondays. Residents must obtain movement passes to exit homes for essential work through the Rajasthan state portal or RajCop Citizen mobile application. All domestic travelers to the state must submit negative results of a COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before entry. Those entering the state without test results must quarantine at home until results of on-arrival tests arrive, or up to 14 days based on medical assessment.

• Uttarakhand: Authorities are enforcing enhanced measures statewide through 06:00 May 25; extensions are likely. Officials will only allow essential services to operate; all nonessential establishments such as gyms, shopping malls, restaurants, and markets must close. Essential shops may operate from 07:00 to 22:00. Transport services must operate with a 50-percent capacity. Movement passes are available online for inter-district travelers on essential trips. Entrants to the state must also register on the Smart City Portal, provide a negative RT-PCR test obtained within 72 hours of entry, and undergo a seven-day quarantine.

• Uttar Pradesh: Nonessential activity will remain banned through 07:00 May 31; additional extensions are probable. Other ongoing measures include weekly curfews from 20:00 Fridays-07:00 Tuesdays and 20:00-07:00 nightly curfews. Residents must obtain movement passes online to exit homes; essential workers may carry employment passes. Transport services except for Metro rail services are available during curfews. Interstate public buses are suspended until further notice. Air passengers must register online before arrival; they must also carry negative results of an RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure or undergo on-arrival testing. Officials may also conduct random testing for passengers arriving via any route from high-risk domestic locations like Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Punjab. Asymptomatic domestic travelers must quarantine at home for a week unless planning to exit the state within seven days of arrival; symptomatic passengers will undergo an extended quarantine of 14 days.

Advice

Follow all official instructions; minimize outdoor activity to the extent possible. Abide by state and national health and safety measures. Reconfirm business appointments, deliveries, work, and travel arrangements. Do not check out of accommodation without confirming onward travel. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Ensure access to essential items, plan for queues, and delays at available shopping centers. Carry proper identification documents and heed all security advisories.

Resources

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Help Page
Chandigarh Union Territory Portal
Chhattisgarh State Government COVID-19 Portal
Delhi Union Territory Movement Pass Application
Haryana State COVID-19 Portal
Haryana State Movement Pass Application
Himachal Pradesh Entry Registration Portal
Ladakh Union Territory COVID-19 Portal
Leh District Movement Pass
Madhya Pradesh State Government COVID-19 Portal
Punjab State Government Portal
Punjab State Entry and Movement Pass Application
Rajasthan State Government COVID-19 Portal
Uttarakhand State Domestic Traveler Registration
Uttarakhand State International Traveler Registration
Uttar Pradesh State Air Traveler Registration
Uttar Pradesh State Movement Pass
World Health Organization (WHO)