While the nation is still grappling with Covid-19, the continued efforts of the Indian Government to mitigate the risk has been commendable. In its endeavor to lift the lockdown in a phased manner, while keeping a check on the spread of the pandemic, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued new guidelines on July 29, 2020 for re-opening of more activities in areas outside containment zones (Unlock III Guidelines).  The lockdown has been extended in containment zones till August 31, 2020.

Since our previous update, the key points to note under the Unlock III Guidelines are as below:

1.    Night curfew lifted: The restrictions in relation to movement of individuals between 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. are no longer in effect.

2.    Permitted and restricted activities: All activities have now been permitted in areas outside the containment zones, except the ones mentioned below:

a.    Schools, colleges and other educational institutions are to remain closed till August 31, 2020; however online classes/learning is permitted and encouraged; b.    International air travel of passengers except as permitted by the MHA; c.    Metro rail; d.    Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment centres etc.; and e.    Social, political, cultural, religious functions and other congregations.

Yoga institutes and gymnasiums have been allowed to function from August 5, 2020, subject to compliance with standard operating procedures to be issued by the Government.

3.    The guidelines in relation to the following remain the same as provided in our previous update on Unlock II Guidelines:

a.    Restriction in Containment Zones; b.    Use of Aarogya Setu application; c.    National Directives for COVID-19 management in public and at workplace; d.    Further prohibition of activities outside containment zones by States/Union Territories, based on assessment of the situation; and e.    Movement of persons with SOPs.

Please see here for our dedicated COVID – 19 legal resource page