Unlock 4 guidelines: All you need to know about what is allowed and not

Amid the rising number of COVID19 cases in India the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA on Saturday issued a fresh set of guidelines for Unlock 40 which will come into effect from September 1 and will stay till September 30 2020According to the Unlock 4 guidelines states can no longer impose lockdowns in any area barring containment zones without permission from Centre The MHA said that Metro trains will be allowed to resume services from September 7 in a graded manner while schools colleges and educational insitutes will remain closed till September 30Under Unlock 40 the Home Ministry has allowed opening up of more activities in areas outside the containment zones thereby giving a push to the economy amid the COVID19 crisis However lockdown will continue to be enforced till 30 September in contaminated zonesthe MHA issued circular stated The MHA said social and religious congregations of up to 100 people will be allowed from September 21 with mandatory wearing of face masks social distancing provision for thermal scanning and handwash or sanitiserFor educational instiutues the guidelines stated that StatesUTs may permit up to 50 per cent of teaching and nonteaching staff to be called to the schools at a time for online teaching telecounselling and related work 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 written consent of their parents guardiansHowever the new Unlock guidelines did not mention about the resuming of commercial international flights tofrom country while under the new set of guidelines cinema halls swimming pools entertainment parks and theatres excluding open air theatres will continue to remain shutThe Home Ministry advisory comes after India recorded about 79000 cases the highest single day surge thereby taking the countrys COVID19 tally to over 35 lakh markSalient features of the new guidelines as per PIB noteMetro rail will be allowed to operate with effect from September 7 2020 in a graded manner by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs MOHUA Ministry of Railways MOR in consultation with MHA Standard Operating Procedure SOP will be issued by MOHUASocial academic sports entertainment cultural religious and political functions and other congregations will be permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons with effect from September 21Open air theatres will be permitted to open with effect from September 21Starting September 21 outside containment zones States UTs may permit upto 50 per cent of teaching and nonteaching staffto be called to the schools at a time for online teaching tele counselling and related workStudents of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools in areas outside the Containment Zones only on voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers This will be subject to written consent of their parents guardiansThere shall be no restriction on interState and intraState movement of persons and goods No separate permission approval epermit will be required for such movementsSchools and colleges will remain shut until September 30Cinema halls swimming pools entertainment parks theatres excluding open air theatre and similar places shall continue to remain closedInternational air travel of passengers banned except as permitted by the MHAThe circular stated that lockdown will continue to be implemented strictly in the Containment Zones till 30 August 2020The Home Ministry directive also advised people to strictly follow social distancing norms and wear face mask at alk times National Directives for COVID19 management shall continue to be followed throughout the country with a view to ensure social distancing Shops will need to maintain adequate physical distancing among customers MHA will monitor the effective implementation of National Directives the advisory statedKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news