Staff Reporter / NEW DELHI
UNION Home Ministry today issued new guidelines for opening up of more activities in areas outside the Containment Zones. In Unlock-4, which will come into effect from 1st of September, the process of phased re-opening of activities has been extended further.
Metro rail will be allowed to operate with effect from 7th September in a graded manner, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Railways in consultation with the Home Ministry. Standard Operating Procedure, SOP in this regard will be issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, political functions and other congregations will be permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, from 21st of September. However, such limited gatherings can be held with mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer.
Open air theatres will be permitted to open with effect from 21 st of September.
The Home Ministry said, after extensive consultation with States and UTs, it has been decided that Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will continue to remain closed for students and regular class activity up to 30th September. Online or distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.
Lockdown will continue to be implemented strictly in the Containment Zones till 30th of September. All activities shall be permitted outside Containment Zones, except cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres excluding open air theatre and similar places and international air travel of passengers, except as permitted by Home Ministry.
There will be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. No separate permission or approval or e-permit will be required for such movements.
The Home Ministry advised states not to impose any local lockdown outside Containment Zones.
National Directives for COVID-19 management shall continue to be followed throughout the country, with a view to ensure social distancing. Shops will need to maintain adequate physical distancing among customers. The Home Ministry will monitor the effective implementation of National Directives.
Vulnerable persons, 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.
The guidelines state:
States / UTs may permit upto 50 per cent of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called to the schools at a time for online teaching/ tele- counselling and related work.
Students of Classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the containment zones only, on voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers. This will be subject to written consent of their parents/guardians.
Skill or entrepreneurship training will be permitted in National Skill Training Institutes, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), short-term training centres registered with National Skill Development Corporation or State Skill Development Missions or other central government ministries or state governments.
National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and their training providers will also be permitted to operate.
Higher education institutions only for research scholars (PhD) and post-graduate students of technical and professional programmes requiring laboratory/ experimental works. These will be permitted by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) in consultation with MHA, based on the assessment of the situation, and keeping in view incidence of Covid-19 in the states/ UTs.
These activities will be permitted with effect from September 21 and the Union Health Ministry will soon issue an SOP for this.
What remains banned:
Under Unlock 4, all activities except the following will be allowed outside areas that have been declared as containment zones.
Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres (excluding open-air theatre) and similar places.
International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by MHA.
Lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till September 30.
As per the MHA guidelines, the district authorities will demarcate containment zones at micro level. However, it will be done after taking into consideration the guidelines of Union Health Ministry. “Strict containment measures will be enforced in these containment zones and only essential activities will be allowed,” the MHA said.