Unlock 5.0
MHA Issues New Guidelines for Re-opening from 1 Oct 2020
·
Gives Flexibility to States UTs for Opening of Schools
·
Opens up more Activities Outside Containment Zones
·
Strict Enforcement of lockdown in Containment Zones till 31st October
2020
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued new guidelines
on 20 September 2020, for opening up of more activities in areas outside the Containment
Zones. In these guidelines, which will come into effect from October 1, 2020, the
process of re-opening of activities has been extended further. The new guidelines,
issued today, are based on feedback received from States and UTs, and extensive
consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.
Salient features of the new guidelines
Activities permitted from 15th October
2020, in areas outside the Containment Zones
·
Cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes
will be permitted to open with upto 50% of their seating
capacity, for which, SOP will be issued by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
·
Business to Business (B2B)
Exhibitions will be permitted to open, for which, SOP will be issued by the Department
of Commerce.
·
Swimming pools being used
for training of sportspersons will be permitted to open, for which the standard
operating procedure (SOP) will be issued by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
(MoYA&S).
·
Entertainment parks and similar
places will be permitted to open, for which the SOP will be issued by Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW).
Opening of Schools, colleges, education institutions
and coaching institutions
·
For re-opening of schools
and coaching institutions, State/ UT Governments have been given the flexibility
to take a decision after 15th October 2020, in a graded manner. The decision shall be taken in consultation with
the respective school/ institution management, based on their assessment of the
situation, and subject to the following conditions:
o Online/ distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode
of teaching and shall be encouraged.
o Where schools are conducting online classes, and some students prefer
to attend online classes rather than physically attend school, they may be permitted
to do so.
o Students may attend schools/ institutions only with the written consent
of parents.
o Attendance must not be enforced, and must depend entirely on parental
consent.
o States /UTs will prepare their own SOP regarding health and safety
precautions for reopening of schools/ institutions based on the SOP to be issued
by Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL),
Ministry of Education, Government of India, keeping local requirements in view.
o Schools, which are allowed to open, will have to mandatorily follow
the SOP to be issued by Education Departments of States/ UTs.
·
Department of Higher Education
(DHE), Ministry of Education may take a decision on the timing of the opening of
Colleges/ Higher Education Institutions, in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA), based on the assessment of the situation. Online/ distance learning shall
continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged.
o However, Higher Education Institutions only for research scholars
(Ph.D) and post-graduate students in science and technology
stream requiring laboratory/ experimental works will be permitted to open from
15th October, 2020, as under:
i.
For Centrally Funded Higher
Education Institutions, the Head of Institution will satisfy herself/ himself that
there is a genuine requirement of research scholars (Ph.D)
and post-graduate students in science and technology stream for laboratory/experimental
works.
ii.
For all other Higher Education
Institutions e.g. State Universities, Private Universities etc., they may open only
for research scholars (Ph.D) and postgraduate students
in science and technology stream requiring laboratory/experimental works as per
decision to be taken by the respective State/UT Governments.
Regulation of gatherings
·
Social/ academic/ sports/
entertainment/ cultural/ religious/ political functions and other congregations
have already been permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, outside Containment Zones
only. Now State/ UT Governments have been
given the flexibility to permit such gatherings beyond the limit of 100 persons,
outside Containment Zones, after 15th October 2020, which will be subject
to the following conditions:
o In closed spaces, a maximum of 50% of the hall capacity will be allowed,
with a ceiling of 200 persons. Wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing,
provision for thermal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitizer will be mandatory.
o In open spaces, keeping the size of the ground/ space in view, and
with strict observance of social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks, provision
for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer.
To ensure that such gatherings do not spread COVID-19,
State/ UT Governments will issue detailed SOPs to regulate such gathering, and strictly
enforce the same.
·
All activities, except the
following, shall be permitted outside containment zones:
i.
International air travel of
passengers, except as permitted by MHA.
·
Lockdown shall continue to
be implemented strictly in the Containment Zones till 31st October,
2020.
·
Containment Zones shall be
demarcated by the District authorities at micro level after taking into consideration
the guidelines of MoHFW with the objective of effectively
breaking the chain of transmission. Strict containment measures will be enforced
in these containment zones and only essential activities will be allowed.
·
Within the containment zones,
strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only essential activities allowed.
·
These Containment Zones will
be notified on the websites of the respective District Collectors and by the States/
UTs and information will also be shared with MOHFW.
States not to impose any local lockdown outside
Containment Zones
·
State/ UT Governments shall
not impose any local lockdown (State/ District/ sub-division/City/ village level),
outside the containment zones, without prior consultation with the Central Government.
No restriction on Inter-State and intra-State movement
·
There shall be no restriction
on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods. No separate permission/
approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements.
National Directives for COVID-19 management
·
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. MHA will monitor the effective
implementation of National Directives.
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 for health purposes.
Use of Aarogya
Setu
·
The use of Aarogya Setu mobile
application will continue to be encouraged.