Unlock 4.0 guidelines: Metro to start operations from Sept 7; schools, colleges to remain shut till Sept 30

Metro services can resume operations in a graded manner from September 7, while political, social and other gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed from September 21, the Unlock 4.0 guidelines issued on Saturday to further ease Covid-19 restrictions said.

Although educational institutions will remain closed throughout the next month, students from Class IX to XII will be allowed to go to schools outside containment zones from September 21 to take guidance from teachers. International air travel, other than those permitted by the government, will also continue to remain suspended.

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In bad news for entertainment sector, the government has still not allowed opening of cinema halls, entertainment parks, theatres and similar places. Swimming pools will also be out of bounds for people.

However, open air theatres will be allowed to open from September 21. Similarly, bars will also be allowed to open, which could fetch more money for cash-starved states.

The guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also warn states against imposing local lockdown, which several have described as indiscriminate. If a state wants to impose local lockdown outside containment zones – state-wide, district, sub-district or city level -- it will have to consult the Centre before taking any such decision. Lockdown in containment zones will continue till September 30.

Out of operations since late March, Metro services will be allowed to operate from September 7 in a "graded manner" by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA), which will prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in consultation with MHA.

States like Delhi had demanded the resumption of Metro services and it is now likely to ease transport woes of people where the facility is available.

Another highlight of the guidelines is the permission granted to hold social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious and political gatherings with a maximum of 100 people in attendance from September 21. However, such limited gatherings can be held with mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer.

This would also mean that marriage related gatherings and funerals can have a guest list of 100 people from September 21. Till September 20, the restriction of 50 guests for marriages and 20 for funerals will remain in place.

Allowing political gatherings, though with a restriction of 100 people, would be a relief for politicians in Bihar, which is headed for Assembly elections later this year.

While educational institutions will remain closed with most states against re-opening of the same, Classes IX -XII students visiting their schools on "voluntary basis, for taking guidance" from their teachers, should have written consent from their parents or guardians.

States could also permit up to 50 per cent of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called to the schools at a time for online teaching or tele-counselling and related work. An SOP will be published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in this regard.

Those pursuing PhD and post graduate students enrolled for technical and professional programmes requiring laboratory and experimental works will be permitted by the Department of Higher Education ( DHE) in consultation with MHA, based on the assessment of the situation, and keeping in view incidence of Covid-19 in the states.

Further opening up of services comes at a time when the country is witnessing a rise in coronavirus cases. India's Covid-19 tally touched 34,63,972 with a single-day spike of 76,472 cases of new infections.

Amid complaints that some states were restricting movement of people and vehicles, the guidelines have made it clear that there will be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods. No separate permission or e-permit will be required for such movements.

"Vulnerable persons, i.e., persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, are advised to stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes," the guidelines added.

In Unlock 3.0 issued for August, the government had lifted night curfew from August 1, while allowing yoga schools and gymnasiums to open from August 5.