Unlock 3.0 guidelines: Gyms and Yoga institutes will be allowed to operate from August 5 and there will be an end to the night curfew, the Union Home Ministry said today as it announced guidelines for Unlock 3.0. Under Unlock 3.0, the government has allowed more business to open up. However, schools and other educational institutes will remain closed until August 31, the guidelines state.
The MHA said the Unlock 3.0 guidelines are aimed at opening up more activities in areas outside the Containment Zones. The Unlock 3.0 will come into effect from August 1.
"The process of phased re-opening of activities has been extended further. The new guidelines are based on feedback received from states and UTs, and extensive consultations held with related central ministries and departments," the MHA said. The government has also prohibited opening up of metro rail services, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places.
Under Unlock 3.0, restrictions on movement of people during night, also known as 'Night curfew', have been completely removed.
Besides this, the Unlock 3.0 guidelines state that Yoga institutes and gyms will be allowed to operate from August 5. However, the Union Health Ministry will be issuing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in this regard that will ensure social distancing norms and contain the spread of Covid-19.
Speaking about schools and other educational institutions, the ministry said that after extensive consultation with states and UTs, it has been decided that schools, colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed till August 31.
In Unlock 2.0, the government has made it clear that international air travel will continue to operate in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission. "Further opening up will take place in a calibrated manner," it said.
UNDER UNLOCK 3.0, THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL REMAIN CLOSED
= Metro rail services = Cinema halls = Swimming pools = Entertainment parks = Theatres = Bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places. = Social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions and other large congregations. = The government said dates on when these will be allowed to operate will be decided separately, based on the assessment of the situation.
STRICT LOCKDOWN IN CONTAINMENT ZONES
Meanwhile, lockdown will continue and be strictly implemented till August 31 in all areas that have been earmarked as 'containment zones'. Unlock 3.0 guidelines state that containment zones are required to be carefully demarcated by the state/ UT governments with a view to contain the spread of Covid-19, after taking into consideration the guidelines issued by Union Health Ministry.
"Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only essential activities allowed. These Containment Zones will be notified on the websites of the respective district collectors and by the states/ UTs and information will also be shared with the Centre," the guidelines state.
Apart from this, activities in containment zones shall be monitored strictly by State and UT authorities, and guidelines relating to containment measure in these zones shall be strictly implemented.
The Centre has meanwhile left it to the state/UTs to decide on the range of activities that they would like to permit outside containment zones.
It said states and UTs may prohibit certain activities outside the containment zones, or impose such other restrictions, based on their assessment of the situation.
However, there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods. No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements.