Unlock 4 : Lockdown extended in containment zones till 30 Sept, metro rail can resume

 

Unlock 4 : Lockdown extended in containment zones till 30 Sept, metro rail can resume

Religious, sports, political events allowed from 21 September

Social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, political functions and other congregations will be permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, from 21 September, it further stated.

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News 

KRISHNAGAR, 29 AUG: The Ministry of Home Affairs today announced the fresh guidelines for Unlock 4 plan. Under the guidelines, lockdown will be extended in the country till 30 September. However, the lockdown will only be implemented strictly in the containment zones, it said.

“The new guidelines, issued today, are based on feedback received from States and UTs, and extensive consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments,” the Centre said in a statement.

In a major development, metro rail will be allowed to operate with effect from 7 September in a graded manner, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA)/ Ministry of Railways (MOR), in consultation with MHA, the statement said.

Furthermore, schools, colleges, Educational and coaching institutions to remain closed; states and UTs may permit 50% of teaching staff to come to schools for online teaching from September 21. Students of Class 9-12 can voluntarily visit schools, with parents’ written consent.

Moreover, higher education institutions only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and post-graduate students of technical and professional programmes requiring laboratory/ experimental works will be allowed in the new guidelines. “These will be permitted by the Department of Higher Education (ME) in consultation with MHA, based on the assessment of the situation, and keeping in view incidence of COVID-19 in the States/ UTs,” MHA said in a statement.

The ministry of health and family welfare will issue the required standard operating procedure for senior school students, school staff and higher education students in due course.

Social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, political functions and other congregations will be permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, from 21 September, it further stated.

However, such limited gatherings can be held with the mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer, the guidelines said.

There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. No separate permission or approval, e-permit will be required for such movements, the guidelines further stated.

Cinema hall, swimming pools, theatres and similar places to remain closed. However open air theatres permitted to open from September 21.

However, all activities will be allowed outside containment zones which were earlier permitted by the authorities in the earlier guidelines such as shopping malls, barber shops etc.

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.

International air travel will be suspended until further notice, except as permitted by MHA.

Courtesy: Images from Net.