In the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, and to facilitate the fight to contain its spread, the Government has issued a Notification No. 20/2020-Customs dated April 9, 2020 , exempting the following medical devices from all customs duty and health cess: COVID-19 test kits; Face masks and surgical masks; Personal Protection Equipment (PPE); Artificial respiration or other therapeutic respiration apparatus (i.e. ventilators); and Inputs required in manufacturing such products provided that importer follows the procedure set out in the Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty) Rules, 2017.  This exemption will remain effective until 30 September 2020.

Lockdown measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 has been in force in the country since 24 March 2020. On 30 May 2020, pursuant to the direction of the National Disaster Management Authority under Section 6(2)(i) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Ministry of Home Affairs ( MHA ) issued an  order  enumerating the guidelines for phased re-opening of activities which were prohibited during the lockdown in areas outside the designated containment zones, as  Unlockdown 1 . This order was to remain in force up to 30 June 2020. On 29 June 2020, with a view to re-open more activities in the country, in a calibrated manner, in areas outside containment zones, the MHA issued detailed  guidelines  on  Unlockdown 2 . The order had also extended the lockdown in containment zones up to 31 July 2020. On 29 July 2020, MHA had issued guidelines on  Unlock 3  which came into effect on 1 August 2020 for further extension of the process of phased re-opening. However, the order also stipulated f

On 24 March 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs vide its order no. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) issued guidelines to be followed by ministries/departments of the Government of India, State/ Union Territory Governments and Authorities, containing measures to combat the spread of COVID-19. These guidelines were issued by the National Executive Committee under the directions of the National Disaster Management Authority (order No. 1-29/2020-PP(Pt. II) dated 24 March 2020) and in exercise of its powers conferred under Section 10(2)(l) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The Guidelines , inter alia , provide for the following containment measures which shall remain applicable for a period of 21 days with effect from 25 March 2020: 1.     All offices of the Government of India, its autonomous/subordinate offices and public corporations shall remain closed except for defence, central armed police forces, public utilities (including petroleum, LPG, CNG, PNG), disaster management, power g