Centre’s new COVID-19 guidelines to be implemented from Dec 1: Here is what’s allowed

In the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines for “surveillance, containment and caution”, which will be effective starting from December 1 and will remain in place till December 31, reported ANI.

Considering the surge in coronavirus cases, the MHA said, “There is need to maintain caution and to strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy”, which is focused on “surveillance, containment and strict observance of the guidelines/ SOPs.”

“Local district, police and municipal authorities shall be responsible to ensure that the prescribed containment measures are strictly followed. States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19,” it said.

It further mentioned that states and union territories can impose local restrictions like night curfew to contain the spread of COVID-19, but they will have to consult the Centre prior to imposing any lockdown outside the containment zones.

The ministry has only listed essential activities beside intensive house-to-house surveillance for containment zones. There will be a stringent perimetre in place to ensure there is no movement of people inside or outside the containment zones except for medical emergencies and for the supply of essential goods and services.

Other such regulations comprise quick isolation of patients infected with COVID-19 either at home or at treatment facilities.

Here are some of the activities permitted with the following restrictions by MHA: 

1. International air travel of passengers

2. Swimming pools, only for training of athletes

3. Cinema halls and theatres, with up to 50 % capacity

4. Exhibition halls, only for business to business (B2B) operations

5. Social, religious, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural, religious gatherings with up to a maximum of 50% of the hall capacity, with a ceiling of 200 people in closed spaces, and keeping of the size of the premises in view, in case of open spaces. States and UTs may lower the limit to 100 people or less, in closed spaces

6. There shall be no curb on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods. For cross land-border trade under treaties with adjacent countries, no restrictions will take place. No separate approval or e-permit will be required for such movements