Lockdown 4.0: E-commerce companies can deliver non-essential goods to the Red Zones in India

E-commerce companies such as Amazon, Flipkart, will deliver essential and non-essential goods to all locations beyond containment zones, the centre today announced as it extended the nationwide lockdown for the fourth time until May 31. Earlier e-commerce sites in the third phase of the lockdown were allowed to deliver non-essential goods only in green and orange zones.

Online sales in containment zones throughout the country will continue to be restricted, where only critical operations will be allowed. Containment zones will be strictly monitored, no movement of people will be permitted except for medical emergencies and supply of essential goods.

The step to permit e-commerce sites to deliver non-essential goods in Red Zomes will come as a significant boost for companies that have been permitted to sell only essential goods since the lockdown began on March 25.

Amazon had said that it has seen the greatest impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its business in India internationally. Due to the lockdown that briefly contracted its business to essential items such as groceries, the e-commerce giant that has a large presence in the country had been facing a tough time.