The controversial Covid-tracker app Aarogya Setu appears to have been made optional, going by the lockdown guidelines issued on Sunday, which said: '… employers on best effort basis should ensure that Aarogya Setu is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones.'

The guidelines, that were issued after the lockdown was extended till May 31, also said the local authority 'may advise' individuals to install the app.

The May 1 guidelines had said the app was 'mandatory' for all public and private sector employees as well as for residents of containment zones.

'Use of Aarogya Setu app shall be mandatory for all employees, both private and public. It shall be the responsibility of the head of the respective organisation to ensure 100 per cent coverage of the app among the employees,” the May 1 guidelines said.

Sunday's guidelines also said district authorities 'may advise' individuals to install the app on compatible mobile phones and regularly update their health status as this will facilitate timely provisions of medical attention to those individuals who are at risk.

In its order, the Centre extended the lockdown till May 31 with several relaxations in non-containment zones and allowed states to decide the colour code that reflects the intensity of the Covid-19 spread in a particular area.

Some of the key changes in Lockdown 4, compared with the previous phase that ended on Sunday:

• Shops of all categories, except those in malls and in containment zones, can open with staggered timings. Barber shops, salons and spas can function and e-commerce firms can deliver nonessential items in non-containment zones, PTI added. The states will have the final say on the shops that can open.
  Representatives of malls have requested the government to allow them to reopen, describing the continuing bar as unfortunate and pointing out that such centres are equipped to follow social distancing and public hygiene norms under professional supervision.
• Intra- and inter-state movement (with mutual consent of the states) of passenger vehicles and buses.
• Hotels and restaurants cannot reopen but can operate kitchens for home delivery and takeaway services.
• Sports complexes and stadiums will be permitted to open for sporting events but without spectators. (Asked whether the IPL would be allowed, the Union home ministry spokesperson refused comment).

Night curfew will remain in force between 7pm and 7am on the movement of individuals for all non-essential activities.

The states can decide on the delineation of red, orange and green zones in line with the Union health ministry’s guidelines. District administrations and local urban bodies will identify the containment and buffer zones within the red and orange zones with the help of local technical inputs and the Union ministry’s guidelines.

All domestic and international flights and Metro train services will remain prohibited. Air ambulance and flights for security purposes will be allowed.

Schools, colleges, educational training institutions, hotels, gyms, swimming pools and cinemas will remain closed. No social, political or religious functions will be allowed, and places of worship will remain shut till May 31, the home ministry said.

The practice of working from home should be followed to the extent possible and staggering of work hours should be adopted by all offices and establishments. There should be thermal scanning and use of hand sanitisers at all entry and exit points and common areas, the guidelines said.