Unlock 3.0 Guidelines: The Centre on Wednesday issued guidelines for Unlock 3.0, which will begin from August 1, allowing a few more activities and dropping night curfew–restrictions on the movement of individuals during the night. Gymnasiums and Yoga institutes, which have been shut for over four months, will be allowed to open from August 5, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced, adding that Standard Operating Procedure for the same will be issued by the Health Ministry.

However, exemptions for repatriation and other emergency travel needs will continue to apply for overseas flights. The home ministry announced fresh guidelines on Wednesday under Unlock 3.0 to relax lockdown restrictions in areas outside containment zones. They take effect on Saturday.

“Yoga institutes, gyms will be allowed to open from August 5. The SOPs will be issued by the Union health ministry,” the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a press release.

Independence Day functions will be allowed with social distancing and by following other health protocols, e.g., wearing masks, etc. International air travel of passengers has been permitted in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission. “Further opening-up will take place in a calibrated manner,” MHA’s order stated.

Schools, colleges, coaching institutions will continue to remain shut till August 31. The lockdown shall, however, continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till August 31, 2020, and only essential services will be allowed in the containment zones.

State, district, and panchayat-level officials should ensure that safety norms such as distancing and masks are followed at Independence Day celebrations on August 15, MHA said. Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, and auditoriums will stay shut until August 31. The government said dates for the reopening of such facilities services will be “decided separately based on the assessment of the situation.”

WHAT WILL REMAIN CLOSED

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 until 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 containing the spread of Covid-19, after taking into consideration the guidelines issued by Union Health Ministry.