MHA issues fresh Covid guidelines: Theatres, cinema halls, swimming pools allowed to operate at higher capacity | DETAILS

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued fresh Covid-19 guidelines, allowing activities outside containment zones. The Home Ministry has mandated states and Union Territories (UT) to continue to enforce Covid containment measures and SOPs on various activities and ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour.

The guidelines issued by Home Ministry for surveillance, containment and caution, will be effective from February 1 till February 28.

As per the guidelines, the main focus is to consolidate the substantial gains that have been achieved against the spread of Covid-19 which is visible in the steady decline in number of active and new cases in the country over the last four months.

What do the fresh guidelines say

Surveillance and Containment

1. Containment Zones, if required, shall be carefully demarcated by the district authorities at the micro-level, taking into consideration guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in this regard. Within the demarcated Containment Zones, containment measures, as prescribed by MoHFW shall be scrupulously followed.

2. Local district, police and municipal authorities shall be responsible to ensure that the prescribed containment measures are strictly followed and State/UT governments shall ensure the accountability of the officers concerned in this regard.

Covid-Appropriate behaviour

1. State/UT governments shall take all necessary measures to promote Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and ensure wearing of face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing.

3. National Directives for Covid-19 management shall continue to be followed throughout the country, so as to enforce Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.

Strict adherence to the prescribed SOPs

1. All activities have been permitted outside Containment Zones, except for the following, which will be subject to strict adherence of SOPs, as indicated below:

-Social/religious/sports/entertainment/educational/cultural/religious gatherings have already been permitted up to a maximum of 50% of the hall capacity, with a ceiling of 200 persons in closed spaces; and keeping of the size of the ground/space in view, in open spaces. Now such gatherings will be allowed subject to SOP of the State/ UT concerned.

-Cinema halls and theatres have already been permitted up to 50 per cent of seating capacity. Now these will be permitted to operate at higher seating capacity, for which a revised SOP will be issued by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in consultation with MHA.

-Swimming pools have already been permitted for use of sportspersons. Now, swimming pools will be permitted for all, for which a revised SOP will be issued by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYA&S) in consultation with MHA.

-Business to Business (B2B) exhibition halls have already been permitted. Now all types of exhibition halls will be permitted, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce in consultation with MHA.

-For further opening up of international air travel of passengers, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) may take a decision in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) based on the assessment of the situation.

-SOPs, as updated from time to time, have been prescribed for various activities. These include movement by passenger trains; air travel; metro trains; schools; higher educational institutions; hotels and restaurants; shopping malls, multiplexes and entertainment parks; yoga centres and gymnasiums, etc. These SOPs shall be strictly enforced by the authorities concerned, who shall be responsible for their strict observance.

Local restrictions

There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods including those for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission/approval/e-permit will be required for such movements.

Protection of vulnerable persons

Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years are advised to take necessary precautions.

-Use of Aarogya Setu mobile application will continue to be encouraged.