India is nearing the conclusion of the fourth stage of the national unlocking, which will end on September 30. Unlocking 4, which began on September 1, saw the central government give several major relaxations, such as the resumption of Metro services for the first time since the end of March and the partial reopening of schools for classes 9-12.
Now, with the fifth stage of the Unlocking scheduled to begin on October 1, speculation is mounting about further relaxations that the Center may allow. Last week, in his virtual meeting with the chief ministers of the seven worst affected states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested that steps be taken to implement the idea of ’micro-containment’ zones.
With the holiday season just around the corner, there are expectations that the Center will open more activities for Unlock 5. Here’s what to expect:
Economic activities: Although the Ministry of the Interior (MHA) had allowed public places such as shopping centers, beauty salons, restaurants and gyms to open with restrictions, it is likely that more economic activities will be allowed from October with physical distancing.
In his meeting with senior ministers, Prime Minister Modi emphasized re-evaluating containments and closures in a way that slows the spread of Covid-19. However, he had also said that because of this, economic activities should not face problems.
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Cinemas: Despite fervent calls from the Multiplex Association of India, the MHA had only given permission for open-air theaters to resume operations as of September 21.
However, in August, Amit Khare, secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, had given the Ministry of the Interior a layout formula for movie theaters. According to the plan, alternate seats in the first and next row were to be kept vacant to maintain social distancing.
Furthermore, on Saturday, West Bengal became the first state to allow theaters and cinemas to open from 1 October.
Tourism: The sector, one of the most affected by the Covid-19 blockade, recently experienced some recovery with the reopening of tourist destinations, including the Taj Mahal. It is likely to see a further recovery during Unlock 5 as more resorts and tourist spots may open their doors to travelers.
Recently, the government of Uttarakhand granted tourists permission to enter the state without any institutional quarantine.
Academic: Several schools and universities across the country reopened beginning September 21 for students in classes 9-12, on a voluntary basis, and is expected to continue into the next month. However, according to people familiar with the developments, elementary classes will remain closed for a few more weeks. Universities and colleges, meanwhile, have already started their admissions tests and the new academic year can begin through online classes.
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