The Unlock 5 guidelines announced in September to reopen schools, colleges and commercial establishments have been extended through November 30, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday amid a drop in daily Covid-19 cases and a welcome increase in those. recovery rates.
The government said there should be no restrictions on the interstate and intrastate movement of people and goods. “There will be no restriction on the interstate and intrastate movement of people and goods. No separate permit or electronic permit will be required for such a move, ”the Interior Ministry said.
“The blockade will continue to be strictly implemented in the Containment Zones until November 30, 2020,” he added.
The Unlock 5 guidelines were announced on September 30 and went into effect the next day. In particular, it had allowed movie theaters outside of the containment zones to be open with occupancy restrictions.
Here’s a look at what was allowed to reopen and what remained closed following the Unlock 5 guidelines:
These are the salient features of the new guidelines:
What is allowed
– Cinemas / theaters / multiplex cinemas are allowed with up to 50% of their seating capacity
– The opening of Business to Business (B2B) exhibitions is allowed subject to SOPs issued by the Department of Commerce.
– Pools used for the training of athletes whose opening is authorized according to the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
– Amusement parks and similar places authorized to open subject to SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Reopening of schools and educational institutions
– For the reopening of schools and training institutions, the state / UT governments had the flexibility to make a decision after October 15, 2020, gradually. The decision will be made in consultation with the management of the respective school / institution, based on their assessment of the situation, and subject to the following conditions:
– Online / distance learning will continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and will be encouraged.
– When schools offer classes online and some students prefer to attend classes online rather than physically attending school, they may be allowed to do so.
– Students may attend schools / institutions only with the written consent of the parents.
– Attendance must not be enforced and must be entirely dependent on parental consent.
– States / UTs will prepare their own SOP regarding health and safety precautions for the reopening of schools / institutions based on the SOP issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India , taking into account local requirements.
– Schools, which can open, must compulsorily follow the SOP issued by the State / UT Departments of Education.
– Department of Higher Education (DHE), the Ministry of Education can make a decision on the timing of the opening of colleges / institutions of higher education, in consultation with the Ministry of the Interior (MHA), based on the assessment of the situation. Online / distance learning will continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and will be encouraged.
– However, higher education institutions only for research academics (Ph.D) and graduate students in the science and technology stream requiring laboratory / experimental work allowed to open as of October 15, 2020, such as is indicated in:
i) For Centrally Funded Higher Education Institutions, the Director of the Institution will ensure that there is a genuine requirement for research scholars (Ph.D) and science and technology graduate students for laboratory / experimental work.
ii) For all other higher education institutions, for example, state universities, private universities, etc., they can be opened only for academic researchers (PhDs) and postgraduate students in science and technology that require laboratory / experimental work as per decision to be taken by the respective state governments / UT.
Meeting Regulation:
– Social / academic / sports / entertainment / cultural / religious / political functions and other congregations have already been allowed with a maximum limit of 100 people, only outside the Containment Zones. State / UT governments have now been given the flexibility to allow such gatherings beyond the 100 person limit, outside the Containment Zones, after October 15, 2020, which will be subject to the following conditions:
– In closed spaces a maximum of 50% of the capacity of the room will be allowed, with a ceiling of 200 people. The use of face masks, the maintenance of social distancing, the provision of thermal scanning and the use of hand washing or disinfectant will be mandatory.
– In open spaces, keeping in sight the size of the land / space, and with strict observance of social distancing, mandatory use of masks, provision for thermal scanning and hand washing or disinfectant.
What is not allowed:
All activities, except the following, will be allowed outside the containment areas:
– International passenger air travel, except as permitted by MHA.
– Entertainment parks and similar places will be closed.
– The blockade will continue to be strictly implemented in the Containment Zones until November 30, 2020.
– The Containment Zones will be delimited by the District authorities at the micro level after taking into consideration the MoHFW guidelines in order to effectively break the transmission chain. Strict containment measures will be applied in these containment zones and only essential activities will be allowed.
– Within the containment areas, strict perimeter control will be maintained and only essential activities will be allowed.
– These Containment Zones will be notified on the websites of the respective District Collectors and by the States / UT and the information will also be shared with the MOHFW.
States will not enforce closure outside containment zones
– State / UT governments will not impose any local blockades (state / district / subdivision / city / town), outside the containment zones, without prior consultation with the central government.
No restrictions on interstate and intrastate movement
– There will be no restrictions on the interstate and intrastate movement of people and goods. No separate electronic permission / approval / permission will be required for such moves.
National guidelines for the management of COVID-19
– The National Directives for the management of COVID-19 will continue to be complied with throughout the country, with a view to ensuring social distancing. Stores must maintain an adequate physical distance between customers. MHA will oversee the effective implementation of the National Directives.
Protection for vulnerable people
– Vulnerable people, i.e. people over 65 years of age, people with comorbidities, pregnant women and children under 10 years of age are advised to stay at home, except to meet essential requirements and for reasons of Health.
Use of Aarogya Setu
– The use of the Aarogya Setu mobile application will continue to be promoted.
.
