From June 8, 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs introduced the second phase of unlocking the country and allowing economic activities to commence. The first phase of unlocking was done from 1st June 2020 and the second phase, with more relaxations, commenced from June 8, 2020. After four phases of lockdown, which commenced from March 24th, the economy of India was suffering tremendously and life came to a halt. Thus, to restore normalcy, while at the same time battling the increasing spread of Coronavirus, unlocking of the country was proposed. The Government has, therefore, begun a phased unlocking of the country with new guidelines. Let’s see what has been allowed in this new normal –
- Travel
Air, road and train travel has commenced and free movements between the States and even within the same State has been allowed. International travel, however, still continues to remain restricted.
- Hospitality sector
Hotels, restaurants and malls have been allowed to resume operations provided they follow the SOP issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Spa and salons
Spas and salons have also been given the nod to resume operations provided they follow the proper safety precautions and maintain complete hygiene.
- Worship places and gatherings
Temples, mosques, churches and other places of worship have been allowed to open but large gatherings are discouraged. In the case of marriage, death or any other social activity where a gathering might happen, the number of attendees is restricted to 50.
- Conveyance
Two-wheelers, four-wheelers, bus, taxis and cab rentals have also been allowed to commute. Individuals are not required to obtain a pass to commute. In buses and other modes of mass commute, social distancing and limited occupancy should be maintained.
- Night curfew
In this phase of unlocking, the curfew timings have been relaxed. While earlier, night curfew was imposed from 7 pm to 7 am, now the timing has been changed to 9 pm to 5 am.
While the above-mentioned relaxations have been granted by the Government, here is the SOP which is expected to be followed by businesses and consumers alike in their daily lifestyle –
- Restaurants should encourage take-aways or home deliveries rather than dine-ins
- Only asymptomatic individuals should be allowed entry in restaurants and malls. Thermal screening of everyone is a must
- The use of masks, sanitizers and social distancing norms should be religiously followed by staff, workers and patrons alike
- Parking for restaurants, malls and shops should be managed properly so as to minimize contact as much as possible
- Restaurants should design contactless or single-use menus, allow contactless payments and food delivery facilities
- Restaurants are allowed to operate at a 50% capacity
- Malls and restaurants should sanitize their workspaces at regular intervals
- Posters, brochures, images or videos of precautionary measures should be prominently displayed at all places
- Individuals aged 65 years and above, children below 10 years of age, pregnant women and individuals with co-morbidities are encouraged to stay at home and avoid outside movements
- In the case of containment zones, lockdown would be extended till 30th June 2020. Only essential services would be allowed in such zones.
Here is a look at some of the changes which the Government has allowed in the new phase of the lockdown –
|
Activities |
Status |
|
Night curfew |
From 9 pm to 5 am |
|
Outdoor activities like cycling, jogging, walking |
Allowed for a limited duration in society compounds, playgrounds and beaches |
|
Utility services like plumbers, electricians, etc. |
Allowed |
|
Markets, malls, shops |
Allowed if they follow the SOP |
|
Cabs, autos and taxis |
Allowed with 1+2 capacity |
|
Metros and local trains |
Not allowed |
|
Public buses |
Allowed with 50% capacity |
|
Private offices |
Can be opened with limited staff capacity |
|
Inter-State and intra-State movements |
Allowed |
|
Train, road and air travel |
Allowed within India |
|
International travel |
Not allowed |
|
Restaurants and hotels |
Allowed if they follow the SOP |
|
Theatres, gyms, amusement parks, cinemas, etc. |
Not allowed |
|
Educational institutions |
Not allowed |
|
Religious places and places of worship |
Allowed if they follow the SOP |
|
Auditoriums, assembly halls and large congregations |
Not allowed |
The unlocking phase would continue as new directives and decisions are expected to be taken in July. However, for the time being, you should know the current relaxations allowed by the Government. Even though there have been a lot of relaxations, remember, the virus is still very contagious. Protective measures should be taken as you try and normalise your routine life. Precaution is always better than cure and while the relaxation is a welcome move, don’t forget to remain alert against the spread of the virus.
