With the current Unlock 2 ending on 31 July 2020, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued new guidelines to fight COVID-19 and for phased re-opening of areas outside the Containment Zones, today. These guidelines would come into effect from August 1, 2020 and would be effective till August 31, 2020. The current phase of re-opening, Unlock 3, will have re-opening of more activities in a calibrated manner in areas outside containment zones & will have extended lockdown till 31 August in containment zones.
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Unlock 3 Guidelines: Activities permitted Outside Containment Zones
In areas outside Containment Zones, all activities will be permitted, except the following:
- Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will remain closed till 31 August, 2020. Online distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.
- Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditorium halls and similar places
- However, Yoga Institutions & Gymnasiums (gyms) will be allowed to function from 5th August 2020, for which standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be released by MoHFW.
- International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by MHA
- Metro Rail
- Social/political sports/entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions and other large congregations.
Dates for re-starting the above activities may be decided separately and necessary SOPs shall be issued for ensuring social distancing and to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Independence Day Functions:
Independence day functions Independence day functions at National, State, District, Sub-Division, Municipal and Panchayat levels and ‘At Home’ functions, wherever held, will be allowed with social distancing and by following other health protocols e.g. wearing of masks. In this regard instructions issued vide MHA letter no 2/5/2020-Public dated 21.07.2020 shall be followed.
Unlock 3 – Lockdown limited to Containment Zones
- Lockdown shall continue to remain in force in the Containment Zones till 31 August, 2020.
- Containment Zones will be demarcated by the District authorities after taking into consideration the guidelines of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) with the objective of effectively breaking the chain of transmission These Containment Zones will be notified on the websites by the respective District Collectors and by the States/UTs and information will be shared with MOHFW.
- In the Containment Zones, only essential activities will be allowed. There shall be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services. In the Containment Zones, there shall be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance, and other clinical interventions, as required. Guidelines of MOHFW shall be effectively implemented for the above purpose.
- Activities in the Containment Zones shall be monitored strictly by the State/UT authorities, and the guidelines relating to containment measures in these zones shall be strictly implemented.
- States/ UTs may also identify Buffer Zones outside the Containment Zones, where new cases are more likely to occur. Within the buffer zones, restrictions as considered necessary may be put in place by the District authorities.
However, there shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods including those for cross land-border trade under Treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements.
Unlock 3 Guidelines: Movement of persons with SOPs
Movement by passenger trains and Shramik special trains; domestic passenger air travel; movement of Indian Nationals stranded outside the country and of specified persons to travel abroad; evacuation of foreign nationals; and sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers will continue to be regulated as per SOPs issued.
Protection for vulnerable persons
Vulnerable persons, i.e., persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, are advised to stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes.
Use of Aarogya Setu
The Aarogya Setu mobile application is a powerful tool built by Government of India to facilitate quick identification of persons infected by COVID-19, or at risk of being infected, thus acting as a shield for individuals and the community. With a view to ensure safety, various authorities are advised to encourage the use of the application.
- 29 July 2020 – Unlock 3 Guidelines by MHA – Download PDF
