India: Goa authorities banning most nonessential activity through May 24 due to ongoing COVID-19 activity /update 26

Event

Western Indian states of Goa, Gujarat, and Maharashtra continue adjusting COVID-19-related measures as of May 10. Overnight curfews and bans on nonessential activity are underway across several areas. Cargo transit, permitted industries, and workplaces requiring night operations are typically unaffected by the measures, though transport and delivery services may face limits.

Nationwide controls on nonessential activity will continue in containment areas with a significant number of COVID-19 cases through May 31. Under these measures, movement from affected areas remains restricted only to select transit points and for essential purposes. All public and nonessential private transport remain banned. Businesses - mainly those providing essential services - may operate with minimal numbers of employees. Residents must stay home and use delivery services to the extent possible. Officials are also maintaining commercial and gathering controls in lower-risk areas. States are also implementing enhanced tracing, testing, and quarantine protocols for high-risk domestic locations, as well as international arrivals, mainly from Brazil, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, and the UK, due to concerns over new variants of COVID-19.

As of May 10, existing or planned measures include:

• Goa: Authorities are banning most nonessential activity through at least 07:00 May 24; extensions are possible. Public gatherings involving more than five people are banned except for events with prior approval. Only essential services and industries may operate; retail centers like markets and malls, sports facilities, recreational venues, and grooming services will remain closed. Private offices must utilize telecommuting to the extent possible. Essential stores may open 07:00-13:00 daily; restaurants may provide food takeaway services through 19:00. Deliveries may occur without time limits. Public transport will only serve essential workers. Officials are also classifying several locations, including tourist spots of Arpora-Nagoa, Calangute, and Candolim areas, as containment zones. All entrants must carry certification proving completion of vaccination, or negative results of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within 72 hours before arrival. Returning Goan residents, and those on official or emergency trips are exempt.

• Gujarat: Officials are expanding 20:00-06:00 nightly curfews to 36 areas through May 12; further extensions are likely. Affected locations include Ahmedabad, Amreli, Anand, Ankleshwar, Botad, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Chhota Udaipur, Dahod, Deesa, Gandhidham, Gandhinagar, Godhra, Himmatnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kadi, Mehsana, Modasa, Morbi, Nadiad, Navsari, Palanpur, Patan, Porbandar, Radhanpur, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Valsad, Vapi, Veraval, Viramgam, Vadodara, and Visnagar cities, as well as urban and rural areas of Surat. Essential services, cargo transit, businesses that require night operations, and transportation may continue to function with social distancing measures during curfews. Authorities are limiting passenger capacity for private and public vehicles, as well as mandating the closure of large retail centers like shopping malls and markets, recreational venues, and sports facilities. Businesses and transport are operational in other areas, though public gatherings are banned statewide except for permitted events. All domestic travelers must produce negative results of an RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure. Asymptomatic domestic entrants to the state may undergo medical screening at entry points but are not required to quarantine. International arrivals must hold negative results of a COVID-19 test when entering; travelers to Surat must download the Surat Municipal Corporation COVID-19 tracker mobile application for contact tracing.

• Maharashtra: Authorities are banning all nonessential activity through May 15. Stores selling essential goods such as groceries, vegetables, and agricultural products may only be open 07:00-11:00. Officials allow shops to deliver essential goods between 07:00 and 20:00; local authorities may alter hours when deliveries are permitted. Residents must stay home unless seeking or providing essential or emergency services. All nonessential commercial establishments, private offices, recreational venues, sports facilities, grooming salons, and dine-in services outside stay-in accommodations will remain closed. Permitted industries, delivery of food and other essential items, cargo transit, government offices, essential businesses, and transport services may operate with social distancing measures. On-site workforce is capped at 50 percent for essential offices and 15 percent for other permitted premises; such workers must undergo vaccination or carry negative results of a COVID-19 test taken every 15 days. Violators may face legal action such as fines. Usage of Metro and other local rail services is limited to essential employees. Public and private buses, as well as taxis, may fill 50-percent seating capacities. Auto rickshaws are allowed to function with two passengers. Domestic travelers from high-risk domestic locations like the National Capital Region including Delhi, as well as Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal states must carry negative results of an RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure; those without test results will undergo on-arrival testing. Asymptomatic arrivals must quarantine at home for 14 days; those leaving the state within seven days are exempt. Multiple states require travelers from Maharashtra State to carry negative results of an RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure.

Emergency and utility services remain operational nationwide. While banks and businesses selling essential goods, such as fuel, food, and medicines, remain open in containment zones, officials will almost certainly regulate price, supply, and opening hours. Panic-buying and associated localized shortages of essential goods may occur in some areas leading up to curfews. Sporadic clashes are possible if groups attempt to enforce business closures or defy official orders. Police may forcibly disperse unruly crowds. Violators may face legal action. Authorities could modify restrictions at short notice, mainly in major cities.

Advice

Follow all official instructions; minimize outdoor activity to the extent possible. Abide by 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 additional 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.

Resources

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Help Page
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Twitter
Goa State COVID-19 Portal
Mumbai COVID-19 Portal
World Health Organization (WHO)