Updated: October 2, 2020 8:57:04 pm
At Khadi bhandar on the Raopura road in Vadodara (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)
With October marking the start of the festive season, the Union Ministry of the Interior, in your Unlock 5 guidelines, has allowed for more relaxation of the Covid-19 lockdown rules while giving states more flexibility in deciding to resume various activities. However, with the MHA order preventing states from imposing local lockdowns, several governments have announced separate guidelines according to the local pandemic situation.
Delhi has deferred a decision to implement the Unlock 5 relaxations, while Kerala, which has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, has banned the gathering of more than five people until the end of this month.
On the other hand, states such as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have allowed the resumption of suburban train services and inter-district train travel, respectively, to revive the struggling economy and facilitate the displacement of their workforce dependent on such “lines. of life”.
This is how states have issued Unlock 5 rules based on the Covid-19 situation:
Delhi
The national capital, which saw its Covid-19 cases rise by at least one lakh in September, will not implement the relaxations offered under the 5.0 unlock guidelines. It means that schools, movie theaters, and social, academic, entertainment, cultural, religious, political, and other gatherings and large congregations will continue to be banned across the city until October 31.
The status quo arrives with Delhi witnessing more than 3,500 cases in recent weeks and a high death rate. On Tuesday, Delhi reported 48 deaths, the most deaths in a single day since July 16. However, the test of allowing weekly bars and markets was extended until October 31. Two weekly markets per day per zone are allowed in the three municipal corporations. areas.
A worker sanitizes seats on PVR Promenade in Vasant Kunj. (Express file)
Maharashtra
Inter-district train travel has been allowed to resume in the Unlock 5 guidelines even though the normal operations of Mumbai suburban rail system, which is also the livelihood of the city, are still prohibited. Only essential service providers and dabbawalas can travel on local trains. However, Minister Aditya Thackeray, who is also Mumbai ‘s watchdog minister, has hinted that local train services could resume in mid-October amid complaints from far-flung employees and employers about the difficulties. to reach Mumbai and commercial businesses. districts.
Explained | Why it’s not easy to restart Mumbai local trains amid Covid-19
Maharashtra, which remains the most affected state, adding more than 16,000 cases a day, has allowed restaurants, bars and food courts to resume their services from October 5. This comes after the restaurant industry, which has suffered heavy losses during the pandemic, requested the prime minister to allow them to reopen.
Movie theaters, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theaters and multiplex cinemas, auditoriums, subways and schools will remain closed.
Passengers are seen on a railway platform after train services for essential services workers resume in Mumbai
Kerala
Praised for his initial handling of the Covid-19 crisis, Kerala now has the third most active number of cases in the country, prompting the government to impose strict restrictions and ban the gathering of more than five people. Therefore, social and political events cannot be held in October. It also means that the Unlock 5 guidelines that allow gatherings of up to 100 people outside of containment zones is also overridden.
Restrictions come with Kerala reporting over 9,000 cases On Friday, galloping towards the list of the ten states with the highest number of cases during the last week. On Thursday, Kerala’s Covid account had crossed the two lakh mark.
A new testing laboratory at Ernakulam Medical College Hospital.
Uttar Pradesh
In accordance with the order of the Ministry of the Interior, Uttar Pradesh has allowed schools, educational and training institutes to open staggered and movie theaters and multiplexes to resume operations at 50 percent of capacity. While the state has the fifth highest number of cases, it has not seen a rapid increase like Kerala. The guidelines are significant in view of the upcoming Durga Puja and by-elections to seven Assembly seats in the state.
Public libraries have also received the green light, while swimming pools can open from October 15, but only for training purposes. The guidelines also allow public gatherings of more than 100 people but with certain conditions.
Explained | What are the new rules for cinemas, schools and social gatherings?
Punjab
With the state witnessing a decline in Covid-19 cases and deaths, Amarinder Singh’s government has ended Sunday’s blockade and lifted the night curfew, as part of Unlock 5.0. Increasing the limit of guests for wedding functions and funerals to 100, reducing the limit of three people in a car and 50% of the capacity on buses are some of the main relaxations announced.
The easing of the restrictions comes with the positivity rate falling from 10.85 percent on Sept. 14 to 5.12 percent on Sept. 28. The state’s Covid death rate has also dropped to 2.9 percent while the recovery rate has risen to 82.1 percent.
Medical volunteers distribute masks, take readings of the body temperature and oxygen levels of people in Mumbai near Deonar to detect symptoms of Covid-19 (Amit Chakravarty)
Uttarakhand
With a case count below 50,000 and active cases below 10,000, Uttarakhand has opened its doors to tourists, eliminating the mandatory quarantine and permit requirement for the movement of people between districts. Movie theaters and theaters have also been allowed to open with up to 50 percent of their seating capacity, while the current limit of 100 people gathered for social and political functions has been lifted as of October 15.
Tamil nadu
In view of the increase in cases in Tamil Nadu, with almost 6 lakh of infections, the government has decided not to open schools, colleges, amusement parks and entertainment centers in October, although Chennai’s suburban train services will resume from October 5th. Services will be restricted. only essential services personnel. Also, restaurants and tea shops can operate from 6:00 a.m. Until 9:00 p.m. M., While parcel and take-out services are available until 10:00 p.m. M.
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