MHA Guidelines: Some relief in Lockdown-4, relaxation of passenger vehicles, sport complexes, salon, barber shops, shopping complexes, markets to open

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Cinema hall, shopping mall, gym, swimming pool, amusement park, theater, bar and auditorium will remain closed.

Domestic and international flights, metro rail services will remain prohibited.

Hotels, restaurants, catering services will remain shutter down.

New Delhi, 17 May: In order to deal with the global pandemic novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the central government has issued new guidelines in the context of the decision to extend the period of complete nationwide lockdown to May 31.

As per the new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, all cinema halls, shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools, amusement parks, theaters, bars and auditoriums and other such places will remain closed till May 31 across the country.

Similarly, all schools, colleges, educational training and coaching institutes etc. will be closed across the country.

However, online education will continue to be allowed and promoted.

Along with this, domestic and international flights, metro rail services will be closed. Only medical and security related flights will be operated by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

It has been said in the guidelines that hotels, restaurants, catering services will remain closed. The restaurant will only be allowed to open the kitchen for home delivery.

Health, police, government departments, medical workers, stranded people at various places, tourists and catering servants in the quarantine have been allowed for movement.

The canteens of railway stations are also excluded from this ban.

Apart from this, all kinds of political, social, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural activity and religious events and the gathering of people will be stopped in this regard.

All religious places and places of worship will remain closed to the public.

However, the good news for the players is that the stadium and sports complex will be able to open, but the audience will not be allowed in them.

Restrictions on movement of passenger vehicles and buses between different states have been relaxed. Interstate transport service will be permitted with some restrictions except for risk zones (containment zones). In this regard, consensus is expected between the states concerned.

However, the State and Union Territories will be able to take a decision regarding the permission for operation of passenger vehicles and buses within the state. The process of pre-emptive precautionary measures in relation to the movement of passengers will continue. Various states and union territories will determine their red, orange and green zones as per the standards set by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Sanctions under Section 144 (Night curfew) will continue from 7 pm to 7 am during lockdown. During this time only necessary activities will be allowed.

As per the guidelines, people above 65 years of age, children below 10 years, people suffering from other serious diseases, pregnant women have been instructed to stay indoors. They can only step out for urgent work and health purposes.

According to the MHA regarding the Arogya Setu application which identifies people suffering from coronavirus infection and prone to infection, the guidelines states that the service providers and owners will do their best to ensure that their employees download this app on their mobile phones. The district administration will also advise people to use the Arogya Setu and keep updating it.

It has also been said in the guidelines that all the states and union territories should allow medical workers, nurses, sanitation workers, ambulances to travel from one state to another without any restriction.

Similarly, permission has been asked to allow movement of freight vehicles and empty trucks from one state to another.