Covid-19: Unlock 5 Rules Extended Till November 30. Here's a Refresher on What's Allowed and What's Not

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The Unlock 5 guidelines were announced on September 30 and came into effect the next day. Most notably, it had allowed cinema halls outside the containment zones to be open with restrictions on occupancy.

The Unlock 5 guidelines announced in September to reopen schools, colleges and commercial establishments have been extended to November 30, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday amid a dip in daily Covid-19 cases and a welcome rise in recovery rates.

The government said there should be no restriction on inter- and intra-state movement of people and goods. “There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. No separate permission or e-permit will be required for such movement,” the home ministry said.

“Lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the Containment Zones till 30th November, 2020,” it added.

Here’s a look at what was allowed to re-open and what remained closed following Unlock 5 guidelines:

Here are the salient features of the new guidelines:

What’s Permitted

– Cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes permitted to open with up to 50% of their seating capacity

– Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions permitted to open subject to SOP issued by the Department of Commerce.

– Swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons permitted to open subject to standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

– Entertainment parks and similar places permitted to open subject to SOP be issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Re-opening of Schools and Educational Institutions

– For re-opening of schools and coaching institutions, State/ UT Governments had been given the flexibility to take a decision after October 15, 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:

– Online/ distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged.

– 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.

– Students may attend schools/ institutions only with the written consent of parents.

– Attendance must not be enforced, and must depend entirely on parental consent.

– States /UTs will prepare their own SOP regarding health and safety precautions for reopening of schools/ institutions based on the SOP issued by Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India, keeping local requirements in view.

– Schools, which are allowed to open, will have to mandatorily follow the SOP issued by Education Departments of States/ UTs.

– Department of Higher Education (DHE), Ministry of Education may take a decision on the timing of the opening of Colleges/ Higher Education Institutions, in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), based on the assessment of the situation. Online/ distance learning 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 permitted to open from October 15, 2020, as under:

i) For Centrally Funded Higher Education Institutions, the Head of Institution 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.

ii) For all other Higher Education Institutions e.g. State Universities, Private Universities etc., they may open only for research scholars (Ph.D) and postgraduate students in science and technology stream requiring laboratory/experimental works as per decision to be taken by the respective State/UT Governments.

Regulation of Gatherings:

– Social/ academic/ sports/ entertainment/ cultural/ religious/ political functions and other congregations have already been permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, outside Containment Zones only. Now State/ UT Governments have been given the flexibility to permit such gatherings beyond the limit of 100 persons, outside Containment Zones, after October 15, 2020, which will be subject to the following conditions:

– 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 sanitizer will be mandatory.

– In open spaces, keeping the size of the ground/ space in view, and with strict observance of social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks, provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer.

What’s Not Permitted:

All activities, except the following, shall be permitted outside containment zones:

– International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by MHA.

– Entertainment parks and similar places will remain closed.

– Lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the Containment Zones till November 30, 2020.

– 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.

– Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only essential activities allowed.

– 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.

States Not to Impose Lockdown Outside Containment Zones

– 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.

No Restriction on Inter-State and Intra-State Movement

– 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.

National Directives for COVID-19 Management

– National Directives for COVID-19 management shall continue to be followed throughout the country, with a view to ensure social distancing. Shops will need to maintain adequate physical distancing among customers. MHA will monitor the effective implementation of National Directives.

Protection for Vulnerable Persons

– 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.