Unlockdown 1.0: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Guidelines
Lockdown
measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 has been in force in the country
since 24 March 2020.
On
17 May 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), under the orders of the
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), vide Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) issued guidelines for the fourth
phase of lockdown measures to be taken by the Ministries/ Departments of
Government of India, State/ UT Governments and State/ UT Authorities for
further containment of COVID-19 in India, which was directed to be in force up
to 31 May 2020.
On
30 May 2020, the NDMA, pursuant to Section 6(2)(i) of the Disaster Management
Act, 2005, has further directed the MHA to issue orders:
(a)
Extending
the lockdown in Containment Zones up to 30 June 2020; and
(b)
Re-opening
prohibited activities in a phased manner in areas outside Containment Zones.
1.
Re-opening
of activities in areas outside Containment Zones:
The
Order primarily permits all activities in areas outside Containment Zones. However,
certain specific activities are permitted subject to the Standing Operating
Procedures (SOPs) that is to be prescribed by the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare (MoHFW). These specific activities are proposed to be
permitted in three phases:
(i)
Phase
I:
The
Order allows the following activities from 8 June 2020:
(a)
Religious
places and places of worship;
(b)
Hotels,
restaurants and hospitality services;
(c)
Shopping
malls.
(ii)
Phase
II:
Schools,
colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions etc are proposed to be
opened after consultations with States/ UTs, after due deliberations with
parents and other stakeholders. Based on such discussions, a decision in this
regard is proposed to be taken in the month of July 2020.
(iii)
Phase
III:
Dates
for resuming the following activities is proposed to be decided based on
evaluation of the extent of spread and containment of the situation:
(a)
International
air travel of passengers, except as permitted by MHA;
(b)
Metro
Rail;
(c) Cinema
halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and
auditoriums, assembly halls etc;
(d)
Social,
political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and
other large congregations.
The
State/ UTs, based on assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain
activities or impose any restrictions as deemed necessary, outside the
Containment Zones.
2.
Lockdown
in Containment Zones:
(a) The
Order directs the District Authorities to demarcate the Containment Zones, on
due consideration of the guidelines issued by the MoHFW;
(b) It
also imposes continuation of the lockdown in such zones until 30 June 2020;
(c) Only
essential activities are to be allowed in the Containment Zones;
(d) Strict
perimeter control shall be imposed in such zones to ensure that there is no
movement of people in and out of these zones, except for medical emergencies
and maintenance of supply of essential goods and services;
(e) The
Order also stipulates intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance,
and other clinical interventions.
(f) States
and UTs may also identify Buffer zones outside the Containment Zones, where new
cases are likely to occur. The Order allows the District authorities to
exercise their discretion to impose restrictions within such buffer zones.
3.
Movement
of Persons and goods:
(a) The
Order prohibits restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons
and goods. Separate permissions/ approvals as previously required for any such
movements is not presently applicable.
(b) If
a State/ UT, based on its assessment of the situation on account of public
health reasons, proposes to regulate movement of persons, it may do so, by
providing adequate publicity in advance of such regulations and procedures to
be followed.
(c) States
/ UTs are also prohibited from restricting movement of any type of goods/ cargo
for cross land-border trade under Treaties with neighbouring countries.
(d) Movement
of the following persons are required to adhere to the respective SOPs:
(ii) movement of Indian Nationals stranded outside the country and of
specified persons to travel abroad, issued vide Order dated May 5, 2020;
4.
Other
restrictions:
(i) Movement
of individuals between 9.00pm and 5.00am shall continue to be prohibited
throughout the country, except for essential activities.
(ii)
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 essential and
health purposes.
5.
National
Directives for COVID-19 Management:
The
Order in its Annexure I has also issued revised directives to be followed
throughout the country:
(i)
Compulsory
wearing of face cover in public places;
(ii)
Maintenance
of minimum distance of 6 feet in public places;
(iii)
Shops
to ensure physical distancing and prohibit entry of more than 5 persons at one
time;
(iv)
Large
public gatherings are prohibited.
a)
For
marriage related gatherings, number of guests to not exceed 50.
b)
For
funeral related gatherings, number of persons to not exceed 20.
(v)
Spitting
in public places is punishable with fine as prescribed by the local
authorities;
(vi)
Consumption
of liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco etc in public places is prohibited.
(vii)
Workplace
directives:
a)
Work
from home to be practised to the extent possible;
b)
Staggering
of work/ business hours to be followed in workplaces, shops, offices, markets,
industrial and commercial establishments;
c)
Provision
of thermal screening, sanitizer, hand wash to be made at all entry and exit
points and common areas;
d)
Frequent
sanitization of all points which come into human contact to be ensured;
e)
Practising
of social distancing by workers is to be ensured by all persons in charge of
workplaces.