Unlock 3.0: Night curfew lifted, schools and educational institutions to remain closed till August 31

Ministry of Home Affairs issues fresh guidelines

Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 30 (EMN): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines (Unlock 3.0), which have allowed opening up of more activities in areas outside containment zones.

The Unlock 3, which will come into effect from August 1, is based on feedback that was received from states and Union Territories, and extensive consultations held with central ministries and departments.

Features of the new guidelines

In a notification issued by the MHA, restrictions on the movement of individuals during the night (night curfew) have been removed.

Yoga institutes and gymnasiums will be allowed to open from August 5, 2020. In this regard, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) to ensure social distancing and to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The MHA has also given the green signal for Independence Day functions, with social distancing and by following other health safety protocols. In this regard, instructions issued by the MHA on 21.07.2020 shall be followed.

International air travel of passengers has been permitted in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission.

“After extensive consultation with states and UTs, it has been decided that schools, colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed till August 31, 2020,” the notification read.

All activities, except the following, shall be permitted outside containment zones.

• Metro Rail, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places.
• Social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions and other large congregations.

The notification added that the dates for opening of these restricted activities will be decided separately, based on an assessment of the situation.

The notification stated that the lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till August 31, 2020.

Likewise, it informed that within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only essential activities would be allowed.

Activities in the containment zones shall be monitored strictly by the state and UT authorities, and the guidelines related to the containment measures in these zones shall be strictly implemented.

The order has directed the states to decide on activities outside the containment zones.

“States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain activities outside the Containment zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary,” the statement read.

However, the MHA made it clear that there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. It added that ‘no separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements.’

National directives for Covid-19 management

The order stated that the national directives for Covid-19 management shall continue to be followed throughout the country, with a view to ensuring social distancing.

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 needs.