Govt issues Unlock-5 guidelines

New Delhi, Sep 30: The Central government has issued guidelines for Unlock-5. The highlight includes allowing state governments to decide on reopening of schools and coaching institutes in graded manner after Oct 15 and also allowing swimming pools, cinemas and entertainment parks to operate with restrictions.

I. Activities permitted outside the Containment Zones
In areas outside the Containment Zones, all activities will be permitted, except the following:

1. State/ UT Governments may take a decision in respect of re-opening of schools and coaching institutions, after Oct 15th, 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 standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding health and safety precautions for reopening of schools/ institutions based on the SOP to be 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 to be issued by Education Departments of States/ UTS prepared as above.

2. 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 will be permitted to open from 15th October, 2020, as under:

• 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.
• 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.

3. Swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons will be permitted to open with effect from 1 5 th October, 2020, for which the SOP will be issued by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYA&S).

4. Cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes will be permitted to open with upto 50% of their seating capacity, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, with effect from 15th October 2020, for which, SOP will be issued by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

5. Entertainment parks and similar places will be permitted to open with effect from October 15, 2020, for which the SOP will be issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW).

6. Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions will be permitted to open, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, with effect from 1 5th October 2020, for which, SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce.

7. 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. Such gatherings beyond the limit of 100 persons may be permitted, outside Containment Zones, by State/ UT Governments only after 15th October 2020, and 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.
  State/ UT Governments will issue detailed SOPs, to regulate such gatherings and strictly enforce the same.

8. International air travel Of passengers, except as permitted by MHA.

II. National Directives for COVID-19 Management

National Directives for COVID-19 Management shall continue to be followed throughout the country.

III. Lockdown limited to Containment Zones

• Lockdown shall remain in force in the Containment Zones till 3 October, 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. There shall 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 supply of essential goods and services. In the Containment Zones, there shall be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance, and other clinical interventions, as required. Guidelines of MoHFW shall be effectively implemented for the above purpose.
• These Containment Zones will be notified on the websites by the respective District Collectors and by the States/ UTS and information will be shared with MOHFW.

IV. State/ UT Governments shall not impose any local lockdown (State/ District/ sub-division/City level), outside the containment zones, without prior consultation with the Central Government.

V. No restriction on Inter-State and intra-State movement

There shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement ofpersons 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.

VI. Movement of persons with SOPs

Movement by passenger trains; domestic passenger air travel; movement of persons on Vande Bharat and Air Transport Bubble flights; and sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers will continue to be regulated as per SOPs issued.

VII. 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.

VIII. Strict enforcement of the guidelines

• State/ UT Governments shall not dilute these guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in any manner.
• For the enforcement of social distancing, State/ UT Governments may, as far as possible, use the provisions of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1973.

IX. All the District Magistrates shall strictly enforce the above measures.

Penal provisions

Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the [PC, and other legal provisions as applicable.