Unlock Guidelines in February by Home Ministry

As the number of cases of COVID-19 keeps on decreasing for the past four months, the Home Ministry provide more relaxations in the unlock guidelines. Ministry of Home Affairs issued a list of fresh guidelines for the month of February. Reopening of public spaces like schools and colleges by keeping the safety measures in mind is permitted.

The state government announced that the students of classes 9th and 11th can go to school and attend the classes from 5th of February. In addition to that, colleges, polytechnics and diploma institutions will also be allowed to take classes from Feb 5th.
Here are some more Guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the month of February:

• The guidelines for ‘Surveillance, Containment and Caution’ will remain in force till February 28, 2021.
• All activities are allowed outside containment zones. It is important to keep strictly follow the new standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued for containment zones.
• “It is, therefore emphasised that to completely overcome this virus, and following the safety protocols is extremely vital. Maintaining caution and to abide by the guidelines and strict observance of the guidelines/ SOPs issued by the Home Ministry is important.
• “Cinema halls and theatres have already been permitted up to 50 per cent of seating capacity. Now they will be permitted to operate at higher seating capacity, for which a revised SOP will be issued by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in consultation with MHA,” it stated.
• As per the home ministry, activities related to swimming pools are allowed for everyone. A revised SOP will soon be announced in this matter.
• “Business to Business (B2B) exhibition halls have already been permitted. Exhibition halls, cinema halls are now opened for everyone and are allowed to operate at a 100% capacity.
• Ministry of Home Affairs allowed the opening of international travelling and passengers can now travel while keeping the safety protocols in mind. The home ministry along with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) may soon issue the new guidelines by properly assessing the situation.
• However, social, religious, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural, religious gatherings have already been permitted up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity, with a ceiling of 200 persons in closed spaces, and keeping of the size of the ground or space in the view, in open spaces.
• Movement of goods both inter-State and intra-State is allowed for everyone. No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements. Usage of Aarogya Setu app has been encouraged,” said the ministry of home affairs.

Over to you
While a consistent drop in the number of coronavirus cases have been noticed, the government is all set to provide major relaxations in the lockdown guidelines but in order to fully overcome the crisis, it is extremely vital to pay heed on the safety protocols and the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.