Objectives The study assessed the community preparedness to manage the COVID-19 and access to healthcare services during the lockdown of 2020 in a rural health block of northern India. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during June-July, 2020 in 25 villages and five wards of a rural administrative block of Haryana. A pre-tested, semi-structured investigator administered checklist was used to assess the community preparedness and practices for COVID-19 prevention/control and healthcare access through direct observations and interviewing community health workers and beneficiaries. Results Active surveillance for influenza-like illness was carried out in 86.7% of the study units, though the frequency was once a month. There was poor adherence (adherence: 0-3%) to COVID-19 infection prevention & control (IPC) measures such as physical distancing and use of face masks. Rural beneficiaries reported difficulty accessing essential healthcare services than their urban counterparts. Conclusion A qualitative study to understand the facilitators and barriers for the non-adherence to IPCs measures by the study population and formulating behaviour change communication strategies for improving the IPCs is needed. Repeat, cross-sectional surveys at regular intervals may be planned to gauge the change and effect of the interventions on the community preparedness and practices.