On 1st June, 2020, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) started the phased re-opening of India which had been under lockdown due to COVID-19. This was called Unlock 1 or Unlock 1.0. Today, 3 months later, India is preparing for Unlock 4.0
Unlock 4.0 addresses major lockdown concerns
- Traders associations and businessmen across the country have been expressing concerns over lockdowns citing loss of business.
- Local, state or district level lockdowns have restricted inter and intra state movement. This, in turn, has hampered national supply chains.
The MHA has issued an order on Saturday with guidelines for Unlock 4.0. On a high level, Unlock 4.0 aims to:
- remove lockdown, allow more activities outside containment zones
- ensure smoother supply chains nation-wide
Unlock 4.0 guidelines
It is mandatory for states and union territories to consult the central government before imposing weekend, night or similar lockdowns in areas other than containment zones.
Restrictions extended till 30th September
- Schools, colleges, educational institutions will remain closed
- Cinema halls, theatres, entertainment parks and similar places will remain closed
- Lockdown will be extended for areas declared as containment zones
Restrictions removed
Effective 1st September, 2020
- Bars and restaurants to serve liquor
- Inter or intra-state movement of goods and people
- No separate e-permit or permission required for inter or intra-state movement
- Travel via/of trains, flights, Indian seafarers will be allowed but regulated
Starting from 7th September
- Metro trains to start plying in graded manner, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) released by the government to be followed.
Starting from 21st September, 2020
- Outside containment zones, 50% of teaching, support staff can be called to school for enabling online classes or related work
- Students from 9th to 12th will be allowed to school for consultation with teachers, written permission from parents
- Skills or entrepreneurship trainings in national institutes
- social, religious, sports, political gatherings or functions can now have 100 people
- Open air theatres to open
Mandatory social hygiene measures
Below mandatory measures have to be taken in case of social gathering, functions or workplace.
- Face masks
- Social distancing of 6 feet or 2 gaz ki doori
- Provision for thermal scanning
- Provision for hand sanitization
- No spitting in public places
- frequent sanitization of whole workplace
- frequent contact areas like door knobs, water taps etc. to be sanitized on regular basis
Hail Aarogya Setu!
- Installation of the mobile app is mandatory for people involved in social gatherings, office goers
- Frequent health status update has to be done
- District authorities to ensure and follow up on app installation
Situation in containment zones
- Intensive house to house surveillance, contact tracing to be continued.
- Movement to be restricted, only emergencies or essential goods to be allowed
Reference: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) web portal
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