Unlock 3.0: Cinema halls, metro, schools and colleges to remain shut; night curfew lifted
30 Jul 2020
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The ministry of home affairs (MHA) today issued new guidelines for restarting of more activities in areas outside containment zones, as a part of Unlock 3.0, which will come into effect from 1 August.
As per the new guidelines, there will be no night curfew while gymnasiums and yoga institutes will be allowed to open from 5 August 2020, even as the government further extended under the process of phased re-opening of economic activities.
The health ministry will issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for this.
The new guidelines, issued today, are based on feedback received from states and union territories (UTs), and after extensive consultations with related central ministries and departments, the government said.
Schools, colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed till 31 August 2020, the order states.
The order clearly states that the following activities such as Metro rail, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will not function..
Social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions and other large congregations will also continue to be restricted.
Decision for reopening these will be decided later based on the assessment of the situation.
The new guidelines will not apply to containment zones where earlier existing lockdown restrictions will be strictly observed. State government will demarcate these zones depending on the severity of the situation.
The centre, however, directed the state governments to allow/prohibit activities outside containment zones after proper assessment of the situation.
However, it clarified that 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, MHA said in its guidelines.
The ministry further reiterated that vulnerable persons, including senior citizens, pregnant women, children below the age of 10 years, may stay home.
The MHA said Independence Day functions “will be allowed with social distancing and by following other health protocols, eg, wearing of masks, etc,” and in this regard instructions, issued earlier shall be followed.
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