Pooja Patel
Yesterday (July 29), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released a set of new guidelines for reopening several sectors and resuming businesses across India. This major phase of unlocking, which is dubbed as Unlock 3.0 begins on August 1.
We give you a lowdown on what’s reopening and what’s still restricted.
Allowed
The 9 pm night curfew has been lifted, which means people can go out after the curfew time even for non-essential work.
In good news for fitness enthusiasts, yoga centres and gyms will be allowed to operate from August 5. However, the soon-to-release Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by the Union Health Ministry must be followed.
Non-team sports like tennis, golf, firing range and badminton can now be played as well.
Independence Day celebration is permitted, but with riders —social distance must be maintained, wearing face masks is mandatory and these ceremonies should not have large gatherings.
In Mumbai, malls and market complexes will open from August 5, which had remained shut since March 25. These can operate from 9 am to 7 pm, but not theatres, food courts and restaurants. Mumbaikars can indulge in some retail therapy. The same is applicable to other major cities like Pune, Solapur, Aurangabad, Malegaon, Nashik, Amravati and Nagpur.
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Restricted
No movement in the containment zones is allowed and these continue to remain under lockdown. Except for medical emergencies, these red zones will virtually remain shut.
School and colleges, theatres, swimming pools, entertainment parks, bars, auditoriums, metro rail services and assembly halls will continue to remain shut till August 31.
International flights will only operate under the Vande Bharat repatriation programme, which means as and when the MHA gives permission.
Social and political gatherings, religious events, entertainment and sports-related functions are restricted.
*Containment zones are excluded from these relaxations. The guidelines are issued by the Central government and the state governments may implement further restrictions, depending on the COVID-19 cases in the states.
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