The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new Guidelines for ‘Unlock 2’ which comes into effect from July 1, across the country, except containment zones marked by the states themselves. More activities have been allowed in this second phase of the unlock that will be in place till July 31, but the MHA has reiterated that strict enforcement of lockdown in Containment Zones shall continue. The new guidelines, stated the MHA, are based on feedback received from States and UTs, and after consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.
Unlock 1 was initiated in June, and had allowed activities, including opening up of places of worship, hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services and shopping malls were allowed to open June 8. These too were only allowed to function outside the Containment Zones, though most religious places did remain closed and conducted virtual worship services. Those over 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, had been advised to stay at home, except for when they need to be out for essential and health related purposes.
Officials of the MHA will continue to monitor the implementation of National Directives issued for Covid-19 management. The ministry has already been in charge of the Covid-19 policies in the National Capital, with the Union Home Minister personally visiting various facilities and conferring with health and policy experts. The government has once again pushed for the use of the Aarogya Setu app, and most private hospitals, and commercial establishments have begun insisting visitors download it before entering the premises.
From July 1 the following are allowed:
- Night curfew timings have been relaxed and will now be from 10 P.M to 5 A.M.
- Night curfew relaxed for industrial units to operate in multiple shifts.
- Relaxations for people to travel to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and airplanes. Domestic flights and passenger trains will be increased in a calibrated manner.
- Shops that have the adequate space, can have more than 5 persons at a time.
- Government’s training institutions will reopen on July 15.
- Movement of persons and goods on National and State Highways, loading and unloading of cargo relaxed.
The following are still not permitted
- All schools, colleges and coaching institutions to remain closed till July 31
- International air travel permitted under the Vande Bharat mission only.
- Metro Rail services still shut.
- Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls shut.
- No large congregations for social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions.
The Ministry has also given fresh instructions for containment zones. State and UT governments have been told to ensure “strict perimeter control” in containment zones and only allow essential activities. Each District Collector has to notify these containment zones on their websites. The marking of these zones and the implementation of the containment measures will also be monitored by the Union Health ministry. The states can assess the situation ground and are allowed to “prohibit certain activities outside the Containment zones,” as well whenever needed.
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