Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued Unlock 4.0 guidelines to open up more activities in areas outside the Containment Zones and to extend the lockdown in Containment Zones up to September 30.
The Unlock 4.0 will come into effect from September 1, 2020, along with the process of phased re-opening of activities.
With this many activities which were stopped since the lockdown 1 will now be allowed to re-open. Open Air Theatres permitted to open from 21 September. Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, on a voluntary basis from September 21.
Metro rail allowed operating from September 7, Social/ academic/sports/entertainment/cultural/ religious/political functions, and other congregations with a ceiling of 100 persons, will be permitted from September 21.
Activities permitted during Unlock 4 period outside the Containment Zones
In areas outside the Containment Zones, all activities will be permitted, except the following:
- Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will continue to remain closed for students and regular class activity up to 30th September 2020. However, the following will be permitted:
- Online distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.
- States/ UTs may permit up to 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called to the schools at a time for online teaching/tele-counseling and related work, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, with effect from 21st September 2020 for which, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MohFW).
- Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, on a voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers. This will be subject to the written consent of their parents/ and will be permitted with effect from September 21 for which SOP will be issued by MoHFW.
- Skill or Entrepreneurship training will be permitted in National Skill Training Institutes, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIS), Short term training centres registered with National Skill Development Corporation or State Skill Development Missions, or other Ministries of Government of India or State Governments. National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and their training providers will also be permitted. These will be permitted with effect from 21 September 2020 for which, SOP will be issued by MoHFW,
- Higher Education Institutions only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and post-graduate students of technical and professional program requiring laboratory/ experimental works. These will be permitted by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) in consultation with MHA, based on the assessment of the situation, and keeping in view incidence of COVID-19 in the States/ UTs.
- Metro rail will be allowed to operate with effect from 7th September 2020 in a graded manner, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA)/ Ministry of Railways (MOR), in consultation with MHA. In this regard, SOP will be issued by MOHUA.
- Social/ academic/ sports/ entertainment/ cultural/ religious/ political functions and other congregations with a ceiling of 100 persons, will be permitted with effect from 21st September 2020, with mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer. However, marriage related gatherings with number of guests not exceeding 50 and funeral/ last rites related gatherings with number of persons not exceeding 20 will continue to be allowed upto 20th September 2020, after which the ceiling of 100 persons will apply.
- Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres and similar places will remain closed. However, open air theatres will be permitted to open with effect from 21 September 2020.
- International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by MHA.
- No restriction on Inter-state and Intra-state movement