Allowing shops to open in red zones raises coronavirus risk, permit online sale: IAMAI

Demanding a level-playing field for e-commerce companies, internet and mobile companies body IAMAI on Thursday said the opening of standalone shops in the red zones raises the transmission risk of coronavirus as these are creating crowding for certain commodities.

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) requested the government to allow the sale of non-essential items as well by e-commerce players in the red zones to address pent-up demand for several items.

The government in its guidelines for the third phase of lockdown from May 4 allowed the opening of standalone shops in the red zones but has restricted operations of e-commerce companies to the sale of essential items only.

"IAMAI has appealed to the government to provide a level-playing field to e-commerce companies in the red zones," the industry body said in a statement.

It said that the opening of standalone shops has created additional operational issues which are not good from a public health ...