New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday (May 30) announced the nationwide lockdown in containment zones will be extended till June 30. The ministry also issued guidelines for reopening of all banned activities in other areas in a phased manner.
As the advisory, all places of worship, shopping malls, hotels and hospitality sector can reopen from June 8. The night curfew, however, has been relaxed to 9 pm to 5 am, which means that movement of individuals during this time will be prohibited across the country, except for essential services. The advisory also stated that no permission, documents or e-pass will be required anymore for inter-state travel.
The health ministry will issue SOPs for the above activities, in consultation with the Central Ministries and departments concerned and other stakeholders, for ensuring social distancing and to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Lockdown 5.0 Guidelines
The Central government has issued revised guidelines for Lockdown 5.0 for reopening of activities outside containment zones across India. In lockdown 5 guidelines, the government has allowed several relaxations. The lockdown has been extended in containment zones till June 30. However, rules have been relaxed for outside containment zones. Night curfew timing has been revised. Now the movement of individuals will be prohibited between 9 pm and 5 am across the country. On the opening of academic institutions, Ministry of Home Affairs said that consultations will be held with States, UTs will hold consultations, other stakeholders on re-opening of academic institutions from July. Following are more details about Lockdown 5.0 guidelines:
As per the Ministry of Home Affairs, only essential activities will be allowed in containment zones till June 30.
In lockdown 5, three phases of relaxations have been announced.
Phase 1: MHA has issued national directives for COVID-19 management, including compulsory use of face masks and social distancing norms.
In Phase II: Schools, colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions etc., will be opened after consultations with States and UTs.
In Phase III: Dates for their opening of International air travel of passengers; operation of Metro Rail; cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks etc will be decided based on the assessment of the situation.
The present lockdown will end on May 31. Shah had telephonic conversations with all CMs before the end of Lockdown 4.0. Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told news agency ANI that lockdown must be extended for 15 more days. He said it lockdown extension was needed, as the graph of COVID-19 cases was rising. Sawant said he spoke to Shah on phone and he felt that the lockdown may be extended for 15 more days. “However, we demand that there should be some relaxations – restaurants should be allowed with social distancing at 50 per cent capacity. Many people also want gyms to resume,” Sawant was quoted as saying. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said Delhi govt believes that places where large gatherings take place, like cinema halls, should remain closed. Schools and colleges should also remain closed.
