As Monday dawns the COVID-19 lockdown 5.0 begins, rather ‘Unlock 1.0’.
The Centre has issued ‘Unlock 1’ guidelines paving way for a phased re-opening of most activities across the country.
The lockdown has been limited only to containment zones for a month till June 30.
Meanwhile, states have been empowered to prohibit certain activities or put suitable restrictions if they deem it necessary for the containment of coronavirus.
Now, states are free to resume normal life outside containment zones.
In the first phase of unlocking, the Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed re-opening of malls, hotels, restaurants and places of worship from June 8.
Whereas in the second phase, schools, colleges, educational/training/coaching institutions would be re-opened in consultation with states and union territories.
A decision on the reopening of these institutions will be taken in July.
Some activities, however, will continue to remain prohibited.
These include international air travel of passengers; operation of Metro Rail; cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places; and, social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions/ and other large congregations.
“In Phase III, dates for their opening will be decided based on the assessment of the situation,” the MHA guidelines said.
It also reduced the night curfew hours from 9 pm to 5 am which was earlier from 7 pm to 7 am.