Unlock 5.0: Ministry of Home Affairs Guidelines
Lockdown measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 has been in force in the country since 24 March 2020.
On 30 May 2020, pursuant to the direction of the National Disaster Management Authority under Section 6(2)(i) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order enumerating the guidelines for phased re-opening of activities which were prohibited during the lockdown in areas outside the designated containment zones, as Unlockdown 1. This order was to remain in force up to 30 June 2020.
On 29 June 2020, with a view to re-open more activities in the country, in a calibrated manner, in areas outside containment zones, the MHA issued detailed guidelines on Unlockdown 2. The order had also extended the lockdown in containment zones up to 31 July 2020.
On 29 July 2020, MHA had issued guidelines on Unlock 3 which came into effect on 1 August 2020 for further extension of the process of phased re-opening. However, the order also stipulated for strict adherence to lockdown in containment zones up to 31 August 2020. On 29 August 2020, to provide further relaxations to the prohibited activitiesm MHA issued detailed guidelines for Unlockdown 4, and extended lockdown in containment zones up to 30 September 2020.
On 30 September 2020, the MHA vide Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I (A) issued guidelines for further re-opening as follows:
1. Activities permitted outside the Containment Zones:
All activities except the following are permitted:
(i) State/ UT Governments may take a decision in respect of re-opening of schools, coaching institutions, after 15 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:
a. Online/ Distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged;
b. 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;
c. Students may attend schools/ institutions only with the written consent of parents;
d. Attendance must not be enforced, and must depend entirely on parental consent;
e. States/ UTs will prepare their own standard operating procedures (SOP) regarding health and safety precautions for reopening of schools/ institutions based on the SOPs to be issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, keeping local requirements in view.
f. Schools, which are allowed to open, will have to mandatorily follow the SOPs to be issued by the education departments of States/ UTs, prepared as above.
(ii) Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, may take a decision on the timing of the opening of colleges/ higher educational institutions, in consultation with the MHA, based on assessment of the situation. Online/ distance leaning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged.
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 15 October 2020, as under:
a. For Centrally Funded Higher Education Institutions, the Head of Insitution 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.
b. For all other Higher Education Institutions eg. State Universities, Private Universitites etc, they may open only for research scholars (Ph.D) and post-graduate students in science and technology stream requiring laboratory/ experimental works as per decision to be taken by the respective State/ UT Governments.
(iii) Swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons will be permitted to open with effect from 15 October 2020, for which the SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
(iv) Cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes will be permitted to open with up to 50% of their seating capacity, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, with effect from 15 October 2020, for which SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
(v) Entertainment parks and similar places will be permitted to open with effect from 15 October 2020 for which the SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
(vi) Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions will be permitted to open, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, with effect from 15 October 2020, for which SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce.
(vii) Social/ academic/ sports/ entertainment/ cultural/ religious/ political functions and other congregations have already been permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, outside the Containment Zones, by State/ UT Governments only after 15 October 2020 and subject to the following conditions:
a. 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 sanitzer will be mandatory.
b. In open spaces, keeping the size of the ground/ space in view, and with strict observance of social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks, provisions for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer.
State/ UT Governments will issue detailed SOPs, to regulate such gatherings and strictly enforce the same.
(viii) International ait travel of passengers, except as permitted by the MHA.
2. Lockdown limited to Containment Zones:
Lockdown to remain in force in Containment Zones up to 31 October 2020.
District Authorities to demarcate the Containment Zones, on due consideration of the guidelines issued
by the MoHFW.
Containment Zones to be notified on the websites of respective District Collectors and by the States/
UTs and information will be shared by MoHFW.
3. National Directives for COVID-19 Management:
The MHA order in its Annexure I has also issued the following directives to be followed throughout
the country:
a. Compulsory wearing of face cover in public places and work places;
b. Maintenance of minimum distance of 6 feet in public places;
c. Shops to ensure physical distancing among customers;
d. Spitting in public places is punishable with fine as prescribed by the local authorities;
e. Workplace directives:
(i) Work from home to be practised to the extent possible;
(ii) Staggering of work/ business hours to be followed in workplaces, shops, offices, markets, industrial and commercial establishments;
(iii) Provision of thermal screening, sanitizer, hand wash to be made at all entry and exit points and common areas;
(iv) Frequent sanitization of all points which come into human contact to be ensured;
(v) Practising of social distancing by workers is to be ensured by all persons in charge of workplaces.
4. States/ UT Governments are prohibited from imposing any local lockdown outside containment zones without prior consultation of the Central Government.
5. Inter-State and Intra-State movement:
No restriction has been placed on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and
goods including those for cross land-border trade under Treaties with neighbouring
countries.
No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements.
6. Movement of persons with SOPs:
The following to continue to be regulated by the respective SOPs issued:
7. Protection of Vulnerable persons:
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.
The order further reiterated the use and purpose of the Aarogya Setu application.