Home Ministry extends lockdown guidelines issued in September till 30 November

Hyderabad: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order on 27 October extending the guidelines to lift the lockdown, issued on 30 September, till 30 November.

Since the MHA issued the first lockdown measures on 24 March, almost all activities have been gradually opened in areas outside the containment zones. However, some activities involving large numbers of people have been allowed with some restrictions and subject to standard operative protocols (SOPs). These activities include Metro rail, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and hospitality services, religious places, yoga and training institutes, gymnasiums, cinemas, and entertainment parks.

The MHA said that states and Union Territories (UTs) have been permitted to make decisions regarding reopening based on the assessment of the situation and subject to SOPs. These activities include schools and coaching institutes, state and private universities for research scholars, and allowing gatherings above the limit of 100.

After the last guidelines issued by the MHA on 30 September, the following activities are also permitted but with certain restrictions: international air travel of passengers as permitted by the MHA; swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons; exhibitions halls for business to business (B2B) purposes; cinemas/theatres/multiplexes up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity; social/academic/sports/entertainment/cultural/religious/political functions and other congregations in closed spaces with a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity and subject to a ceiling of 200 persons.

Lockdown in containment zones till 30 November

The guidelines also stated that the lockdown would be strictly enforced in containment zones till 30 November. It also said that containment zones shall be demarcated by the district authorities at micro-level after taking into consideration the guidelines of the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) with the objective of effectively breaking the chain of transmission. Strict containment measures will be enforced in these containment zones and only essential activities will be allowed, it further added.

The MHA guidelines laid down that strict perimeter control shall be maintained within the containment zones and only essential activities allowed. The district collectors and states/UTs should notify people about the containment zones on the websites. The information will also be shared with the MoHFW, it said.

No local lockdown outside containment zones

States and UTs shall not impose any local lockdown outside the containment zones without prior consultation with the Central government, the MHA has said.

Meanwhile, there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. No separate permission, approval, or e-permit will be required for such movements