Malls and hotels to open June 8, containment zone curbs to stay

Religious places can open, but gatherings not allowed; night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am Intl flights, Metros remain suspended; decision on opening schools, colleges in July

The government on Saturday evening announced several relaxations, including opening of religious places, restaurants and shopping malls in a phased manner from June 8, even as cases of novel coronavirus and fatalities continue to rise. Calling it “Unlock 1”, the Centre issued fresh guidelines relaxing several norms nationwide a day before the fourth phase ends on Sunday.

The Union home ministry’s fresh guidelines said that lockdown in containment zones has been extended till June 30 and international flights and Metro operation will remain suspended.

The guidelines include strict enforcement of lockdown in containment zones, which are to be demarcated by state/UT governments based on health ministry guidelines.

The government said that though “Unlock 1” is to have an economic focus, night curfew will remain in force on the movement of individuals for all non-essential activities from 9 pm to 5 am.

The Union health ministry said on Saturday that the death toll due to Covid-19 rose to 4,971 and the number of cases climbed to 1,73,763 in the country after registering a record single-day spike of 265 deaths and 7,964 cases. In “Unlock 1”, the Centre has given more powers to the states and UTs to ascertain and define a containment zone. Delhi at present has 102 containment zones.

While unveiling details of the phased reopening, the home ministry also asked the Union Health Ministry to issue standard operating procedures for hotels, restaurants, malls and religious places after consulting other ministries, departments and other stakeholders to ensure social distancing and to contain the spread of Covid-19.

In the second phase, opening of educational institutions including schools and colleges will be undertaken in July in consultation with states and UTs, who in the meantime, shall hold meetings at the institution level with parents and other stakeholders. “Based on the feedback, a decision on the re-opening of these institutions will be taken in the month of July, 2020,” the guidelines said and added that the health ministry will prepare SOPs for these institutions.

Limited number of activities including international air travel, metrorail, cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls shall remain suspended for the time being. Social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural and other large congregations including religious shall also remain suspended, the order said, adding that a decision on these would be taken in third phase after making an assessment of the situation. The home ministry also reiterated that there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods and no additional permission required for such travels.

The ministry also advised persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, to stay at home.

The ministry also made it clear that movement of passenger trains and ‘Shramik specials’ meant to ferry migrant workers, domestic air travel and return of Indian nationals stranded outside the country will continue to be regulated as per the standard operating procedure.

The government also eased night curfew which shall now remain in force from 9 pm to 5 am during which movement of individuals and all non-essential activities will not be allowed.