Unlock 4: Centre Issues Unlock Guidelines, Know What Is Permitted & What Not

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday issued guidelines for Unlock 4, for opening up of more activities in areas outside regions demarcated as containment zones of Covid19. The Unlock 4 guidelines will come into effect from September 1.

Here are the lists of activities restricted during Unlock 4

• Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will continue to remain closed for students and regular class activity up to September 30.
• Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres will continue to remain closed.
• International air travel, except as permitted by MHA, to remain suspended.

Activities allowed during Unlock 4

1. The following activities will be permitted, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, with effect from 21st September 2020 for which, SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW):

• States/ UTs may permit upto 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff to schools at a time for online teaching/ tele- counselling and related work.
• Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the Containment Zones only. This will be subject to written consent of their parents/ guardians.
• Skill or Entrepreneurship training will be permitted in National Skill Training Institutes, ITIs, Short term training centres registered with National Skill Development Corporation or State Skill Development Missions or other Ministries of Government of India or State Governments.
• National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and their training providers will also be permitted.
• Higher Education Institutions only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and post-graduate students of technical and professional programmes requiring laboratory/ experimental works. These will be permitted by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) in consultation with MHA, based on the assessment of the situation, and keeping in view incidence of COVID-19 in the States/ UTs.

2. Metro rail will be allowed to operate with effect from 7th September 2020 in a graded manner, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs/Ministry of Railways in consultation with MHA. In this regard, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued by MOHUA.
3. Social/ academic/ sports/ entertainment/ cultural/ religious/ political functions and other congregations will be permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, with effect from 21st September 2020.
4. However, marriage related gatherings with number of guests not exceeding 50 and funeral/last rites related gatherings with number of persons not exceeding 20 till September 20 after which ceiling of 100 people will apply.
5. Open air theatres will be allowed from September 21.

Other Guidelines

1. 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.
2. Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only essential activities allowed.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. No restriction on Inter-State and intra-State movement
6. 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
7. The use of AarogyaSetu mobile application will continue to be encouraged.