The central government has extended lockdown in the country until May 31 as the lockdown-3 came to an end today. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new guidelines for the period ending on May 31, 2020. The new guidelines offered the States and UTs considerable freedom in delineating the Red, Orange, and Green zones. But they have to keep in mind the parameters issued by the Union Ministry of Health& Family Welfare.
As per the new guidelines, the following activities will continue to remain prohibited throughout the country.
*All domestic and international air travel of passengers, except for domestic medical services, domestic air ambulance, and for security purposes or purposes as permitted by MHA.
*Metro rail services
*Schools, colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions, etc. will remain closed. Online distance learning to continue to be permitted and encouraged.
*Hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality services, except those meant for housing health/ police/ Government officials/ healthcare workers/ stranded persons including tourists and for quarantine facilities; and running of canteens at bus depots, railway stations and airports. Restaurants shall be permitted to operate kitchens for home delivery of food Items.
*All cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places. Sports complexes and stadia will be permitted to open; however, spectators will not be allowed.
*All social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/academic/cultural/ religious functions/ other gatherings and large congregations.
* All religious places/ places of worship shall be closed for public. Religious congregations are strictly prohibited.
The following activities will be permitted except those specifically prohibited.
*Inter-State movement of passenger vehicles and buses, with mutual consent of the State(s)/ UT(s) involved.
*Intra-State movement of passenger vehicles and buses, as decided by the States and UTs.
*Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for movement of persons as mentioned in Annexure I, shall continue to operate.
What’s permitted in containment zones
*Only essential activities shall be allowed. There will be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones. Except for medical emergencies and for maintaining a supply of essential goods and services MoHFW guidelines to be taken into consideration for the above purpose.
*There will be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance, and other clinical interventions.
Night curfew
*The movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between 7.00 pm to 7.00 am, except for essential activities. Local authorities shall Issue orders, in the entire area of their jurisdiction under appropriate provisions of the law such as prohibitory orders [Curfew] under Section 144 of CrPC, and ensure strict compliance.
*Protection of vulnerable persons
*Persons above 65 years of age, people with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years will have to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes.
*States and UTs can prohibit any other activities based on their assessment or impose such restrictions as they see fit.
National directives for COVID 19 management
*Wearing of face cover is compulsory in all public and workplaces.
*Spitting in public and workplaces punishable with fine.
*Social distancing to be followed by all persons in public places and in transport. Marriage-related gathering to ensure social distancing. The maximum number of guests is 50.
*Funeral/last rites related gathering to social distancing. Maximum 20 attendees.
*Consumption of liquor paan, gutka, tobacco etc. banned in public places.
*Shops should ensure a minimum six feet distance between customers. No more than five people in a shop at a time.
Additional directives for workplaces
*Practice of work from home to be followed as far as possible.
*Staggering of work/ business hours to be followed in offices, workplaces, shops, markets, and industrial and commercial establishments.
*Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash and sanitizer to be made at all entry and exit points and common areas.
*Frequent sanitization of entire workplace, common facilities, and all points which come into human contacts, such as door handles, to be ensured.
*Adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts. staggering the lunch breaks of staff, etc. to ensure social distancing at the workplace.