KEY HIGHLIGHTS
As per existing guidelines, lockdown will continue to be imposed within
containment zones.
The state governments have been barred from imposing local
lockdowns outside containment zones
New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on Tuesday said that there
will be no further relaxation in Unlock guidelines for the one month. The
MHA issued a notification extending the unlock norms it had put in place on
September 30.
Lockdown will continue to be implemented in containment zones till November
30. District administrations have been tasked to mark containment zones as
per guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
and states/ UTs and district administrations have been asked to notify
containment zones.
Almost all the activities that were halted by the government on March 24
when the first COVID-19 lockdown was imposed, have been restored outside
containment zones.
Besides, other activities such as Metro rail services, shopping malls and
entertainment zones, restaurants, hospitality services, training institutes
and religious places have been allowed to operate with restrictions.
State governments as well as union territories have been allowed to take
decisions on certain activities such as schools and coaching institutes,
universities, gatherings of people for various events including cremations,
marriages besides others.
Following the September 30 order of the ministry, certain other activities
were also allowed to resume across the country. They include –
International air travel
Swimming pools for training sportsmen
Cinemas/ multiplexes to operate with 50 per cent capacity
Social/ academic/ sports events should take place with 50 per cent
occupancy of the stadium/ venue
The MHA has, from time to time, urged the state and union territories to
ensure that citizens have been abiding by the national directives regarding
COVID-19 management.
MHA Guidelines
Dear Chief Secretary,
Kindly refer to Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA’)s Order of even number issued
today whereby Guidelines
for Re-opening dated 30.09.2020 have been extended up to
30.11.2020.
2. As you are aware, since the issuance of
the first Order on lockdown measures by MHA on
24th March 2020, almost all activities have been
gradually opened up in areas
outside the Containment Zones. While
most of the activities have been permitted,
some activities involving large number of people, have
been allowed with some restrictions and subject
to SOPs being followed regarding health and safety
precautions. These activities include – metro
rail; shopping malls; hotel,
restaurants and hospitality services;
religious places; yoga
and training institutes;
gymnasiums; cinemas; entertainment park
etc.
3. In respect of certain activities, having relatively
higher degree of risk of COVIDinfection, State / UT
Governments have been permitted to take
decisions for their re-opening,
based on the assessment of the
situation and subject to SOPs. These
activities include – schools and
coaching institutes; State and
private universities for research
scholars; allowing gatherings above the
limit of O00 etc.
4. As emphasized during various interactions/
communications, the essence behind
graded re-opening and
progressive resumption of activities is
to move ahead. However, it does not
mean the end of the pandemic. There
is a need to exercise abundant
caution by adopting COVID-19 appropriate behaviour
by every citizen in their daily routine. A
‘Jan AndoZan’ was launched
by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 8th October 2020 on COVID-19
appropriate behavior to follow three
mantras, namely, wearing face mask, washing hand frequently, and
maintaining safe distance of 6 feet.
5. However, it has been
reported that during the ongoing
festival season, people are ignoring the
cardinal safety requirements, such as
wearing face masks and maintaining
physical distancing in various gatherings.
Such behavior poses a serious threat to public health,
at a time when the number of
active cases in the country is
witnessing a falling trend.
6. There is, therefore, an urgent need to
instill a sense of discipline and ownership
amongst citizens in order
that the resumption of
activities is successful and
gains made in the management
of the pandemic are not
diluted. Accordingly, you should
endeavour to promote COVID-19 appropriate
behavior extensively at the grass root level
and take measures to enforce the
wearing of mask, hand hygiene and social distancing.
Further State / UT Governments should regulate various
gatherings of people and strictly enforce the
same as per their SOPs.
7.As emphasized in my earlier D.O. letters, States/Union
Territories cannot dilute the
guidelines issued by MHA under
the Disaster Management Act 2005. It is reiterated
that State/ UT Governments shall not impose
any locallockdown, outside the containment zones,
without prior consultation with the Central Government.
Further there shall be no restriction on
inter-State and intra-State movement of
persons and goods including those for cross
land-border trade under Treaties with neighboring
countries.
8.I would urge you to ensure compliance of the
aforesaid Order and direct all concerned authorities
for its strict implementation. Further,
guidelines issued by MHA and
consequent Orders issued by
the respective State Governments/ UT Administration should be
widely disseminated to the
public and to the
field functionaries for
implementation.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
To
The Chief Secretaries of all States.
