The Unlock 5.0, is imposed from the 1st of October in India.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued guidelines of the Unlock 5.0 on the evening of the 30th of September.
The guidelines were issued at a time when the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 cases are rising with 80,000 plus new cases reported in a day.
Despite a steep rise in COVID-19 cases, the Home Ministry has made it clear that there would be more relaxations of rules and fewer restrictions. According to the issued guidelines, swimming pools, cinemas halls, entertainment parks and schools would be operational from the 15th of October.
Here are the guidelines:
- Cinemas/theatres/multiplexes would be permitted to open with upto 50% of their seating capacity. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the same would be issued by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting soon.
- Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions would be permitted to open. SOPs for the same would be issued by the Department of Commerce.
- Swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons would be permitted to open, for which the SOPs will be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYA&S.)
- Entertainment parks and similar places would be permitted to open, for which the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) would issue the SOPs.
- For the re opening of schools and coaching institutions, State/Union Territory (UT) Governments were given flexibility to take a decision after the 15th of October 2020.
- Schools would be open in a graded manner. The decision should be taken in consultation with the respective school/institution management, based on their assessment of the situation, and subject to the local conditions:
1.Online/distance learning should be encouraged and continued as the preferred mode of teaching.
2. Where schools are conducting online classes, and some students prefer to attend online classes rather than physically attend school they may be permitted to do so.
3. Students may attend schools/institutions only with the written consent of parents.
4. Attendance must not be enforced and must depend entirely on parental consent.
5. States /UTs will prepare their own SOPs regarding health and safety precautions for reopening of schools/institutions based on the SOPs to be issued by Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL,) Ministry of Education, Government of India, keeping local requirements in view.
6. Schools, which are allowed to open would need to follow the issued SOPs strictly.
- The Education Departments of States/UTs would issue the SOPs.
- The Department of Higher Education (DHE,) Ministry of Education may take a decision on the timing of the opening of Colleges/Higher Education Institutions, in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA.)
- The decision would be taken based on the assessment of the situation. Online/distance learning should continue to be the preferred mode of teaching.
Unlock 5.0 is said to be very crucial for Indians, as October is the month for Durga Puja celebrations.
In regard to this, Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, said the State would conduct the celebration of Durga Puja in West Bengal.
However, there would be guidelines and SOPs for the pandal creators which would be mandatory.
Another major relaxation due to the Unlock 5.0, would be in Bihar, where Assembly elections are scheduled.
The first phase of the Bihar Assembly Election 2020 is scheduled on 28th of October.
The phase wise unlocking in India amid the Novel Coronavirus started in June.
The fourth phase of the Unlock India ended on the 30th of September.
The decision to Unlock India in a phased manner was taken by the Central Government after the three months of complete lockdown.
According to the Central Government, Unlock in a phased manner was needed to bring the economic situation of India back on track.
However, the government of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have extended lockdown till the 31st of October.
Stay tuned for further updates.
