Phased reopening: What is allowed and what's not

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, May 30

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday issued new guidelines for phased re-opening of areas outside the Containment Zones.  

In a press release, the MHA said the guidelines will come into effect from June 1 and will be effective till June 30. The current phase of re-opening, will have an economic focus.

What’s allowed:

All activities that were prohibited earlier will 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.

In Phase I, religious places and places of worship for public; hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services; and shopping malls; will be permitted to open from June 8, 2020. 

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.

However, if a state/ UT, based on reasons of public health and its assessment of the situation, proposes to regulate movement of persons, it will give wide publicity in advance regarding the restrictions to be placed on such movement, and the related procedures to be followed. 

What’s not allowed:

Only a limited number of activities will remain prohibited throughout the country. 

These activities are: 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.  In Phase III, dates for their opening will be decided based on assessment of the situation. 

Lockdown shall 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.

In 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. 

Night curfew

Night Curfew shall 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.

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