NEW GUIDELINES TO FIGHT COVID-19 TO BE EFFECTIVE
FROM 1ST JUNE 2020
New Guidelines to fight
COVID-19 to be effective from 1st June 2020
Strict enforcement of lockdown in Containment
Zones, which are to be demarcated by State/ UT Governments based on Health
Ministry guidelines
Phased re-opening of all activities outside
Containment Zones; Unlock 1 to have an Economic focus
Night Curfew to remain in force on movement of
individuals for all non-essential activities from 9 pm to 5 am
Posted On: 30 MAY
2020 7:47PM by PIB Delhi
Union
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new guidelines to fight COVID-19 and for
phased re-opening of areas outside the Containment Zones, today. The
guidelines would come into effect from June 1, 2020 and would be effective till
June 30, 2020. The current phase of re-opening, Unlock 1, will have an
economic focus. The new guidelines have been issued based on extensive
consultations held with States and UTs.
A
strict lockdown was imposed throughout the country since March 24, 2020.
All activities were prohibited except essential activities. Subsequently, in a
graded manner and keeping the overarching objective of containing the spread of
COVID-19 in view, the lockdown measures have been relaxed.
Salient features of the new guidelines
Lockdown
measures would continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones.
These will be demarcated by the State/ UT Governments, after taking into
consideration the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry. Within the
containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only
essential activities allowed.
All
activities that were prohibited earlier would be opened up in areas outside
Containment Zones in a phased manner, with the stipulation of following
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to be prescribed by the Health Ministry:
Phase I (permitted to open from June 8, 2020)
·
Religious places and places of worship for
public;
·
Hotels, restaurants and other hospitality
services; and
·
Shopping malls.
Health
Ministry would issue SOPs for the above activities, in consultation with the
Central Ministries/ Departments concerned and other stakeholders, for ensuring social
distancing and to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Phase II
Schools,
colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions etc., will be opened
after consultations with States and UTs. State Governments/ UT
administrations are being advised to hold consultations at the institution
level with parents and other stakeholders. Based on the feedback, a
decision on the re-opening of these institutions will be taken in the month of
July, 2020. MoHFW will prepare SOP for these institutions.
Limited number of activities to remain
prohibited throughout the country
·
International air travel of passengers;
·
Operation of Metro Rail;
·
Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools,
entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar
places; and,
·
Social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/
academic/ cultural/ religious functions/ and other large congregations.
·
Dates for the opening of above activities would
be decided in Phase III, based
on assessment of the situation.
Unrestricted Movement of Persons and Goods
·
No restriction on inter-State and intra-State
movement of persons and goods. No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit
would be required for such movements.
·
However, if a State/ UT, based on reasons of
public health and its assessment of the situation, proposes to regulate
movement of persons, it would give wide publicity in advance regarding the
restrictions to be placed on such movement, and the related procedures to be
followed.
Night curfew would continue to
remain in force, on the movement of individuals, for all non-essential
activities. However, the revised timings of the curfew will be from 9 pm
to 5 am.
National Directives for COVID-19 management would
continue to be followed throughout the country, with a view to ensure social
distancing.
States to decide on activities outside
Containment Zones
States
and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain
activities outside the Containment zones or impose such restrictions, as deemed
necessary.
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.
Use of Aarogya Setu
The Aarogya
Setu mobile application is a powerful tool built by Government
of India to facilitate quick identification of persons infected by COVID-19, or
at risk of being infected, thus acting as a shield for individuals and the
community. With a view to ensure safety, various authorities are advised
to encourage the use of the application.
