Unlock 3.0 New Guidelines: Will Cinema Halls, Schools, Colleges be Opened in Unlock 3.0? Here’s the Complete List of What will be Opened and What will remain Closed across the Country!

 Amid surge in coronavirus cases across India, On Wednesday, India entered the third phase of phase-wise upliftment of the COVID-19-induced lockdown or Unlock 3.0. In the phase of Unlock 3.0, the center allowed yoga institutes and gyms to reopen while the night curfew has been lifted across the country. 

On the other hand, cinemas halls, bars, schools, colleges, and metro railway services will continue to be closed nationwide. The center also stated in its new set of guidelines that all political and religious gatherings will continue to be banned.

The Ministry of the Home Affairs (MHA) stated in a statement that after comprehensive conversations with union territories and states, it has been concluded that coaching institutions, schools, and colleges will be closed till August 31.

The Unlock 3.0 guidelines are come into effect on August 1 and will be strictly enforced. The lockdown in the containment areas will continue until August 31. 

 As India enters the Unlock phase 3, here’s What will Open, and what will be closed nationwide from Wednesday? 

What activities will be allowed? 

• From August 5th, yoga institutions and gymnasiums will be opened across the country from Wednesday, and the instructions or guidelines for reopening have issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The night curfew imposed since the beginning of the lockdown has been elevated.
• According to Unlock 3.0 guidelines, worldwide air travel will continue in a restricted manner under the Vande Bharat mission. 
• Independence Day activities will strictly comply with social distancing regulations.

What will Remain Closed?

• Cinema halls, bars, swimming pools, Metro rail services, entertainment parks, assembly halls, theaters, auditoriums, and similar places will remain closed from Wednesday.
• Sports, entertainment, academic, social, political, cultural, religious activities, and other large gatherings are prohibited. 
• The Ministry of Home Affairs also advised people over 65 age, patients with comorbidities, pregnant women, children under 10 years to stay inside. 

What about International Air Travel?

• International travel by air will continue to be restricted as earlier. Except for Vande Bharat services, the free movement of commercial flights has not been approved yet. 
• Under the Vande Bharat mission, passengers’ international air travel has been permitted in a limited manner. The MHA stated that further reopening will be carried out in a calibrated manner.
• Restricted movement of trains for domestic travel and for migrant workers will now continue. 

What are the guidelines for the containment area? 

1. According to the center, the lockdown in the containment area will continue until August 31. 
2. The Ministry of Home Affairs also stated that within the confinement areas, strict social distancing and other norms to curb the spread of the virus should be maintained. This is only a vital activity and will be allowed. 
3. The Home Ministry said that the confinement areas will be recognized on the websites of the various states, UT and regions. The website indicates that authorities will strictly monitor the activities that occur in these areas.

Is there any relaxation in containment areas?

No, there will be no relaxation provided in the containment zones. The reason government is able to gradually open the areas outside the containment zones is that the number of containment areas has been several in the past. There was an increase in the middle of the month, and strict restrictions were imposed.

The new model followed by the center is to gradually open the economy while targeting lockdown in vulnerable areas.

Regarding containment areas, MHA stated that they should be carefully identified by state / UT governments to determine the extent of the spread of COVID-19, following the guidelines issued by the MOHFW.

The guidelines stated that within the containment area, strict peripheral control should be maintained and only necessary activities are allowed.

All the information of these containment areas will be notified on the websites of the corresponding area’s district collectors and notified by the states/UTs. The informations will also be shared with MOHFW. MHA stated that state and UT authorities should strictly monitor activities in containment zones and strictly enforce the guidelines related to containment measures in these areas.

Coronavirus in India:

The novel coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan city (China), and in India virus has been spreading at an alarming rate. So far, the deadly pathogen has affected more than 18.5 million people and has so far claimed nearly 39,000 lives in India. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that India’s coronavirus tally broke through a grim mark of 19,08,000 cases on Wednesday, while the death toll surged by more than 39,000 after the country reported 52,510 new COVID-19 cases and 858 deaths in the past 24 hours.

According to the data available on the website of Union Health Ministry, the pandemic COVID-19 caused by SARS‑CoV‑2 has infected more than 19,08,255 people in India, killed more than 39,795 people, thus, leading to a mortality rate of 2.09%. The number of active coronavirus cases in India is 5,86,244, while the country’s recovery rate is 67.19%, as 12,82,216 people recovered from the infection and discharged from the hospitals across the country.

Currently, India is the third most affected country in the world after the United States and Brazil. In terms of COVID-19 mortality rates, India is the worst-hit country, ranking fifth, after the United States (US), Brazil, the United Kingdom (UK), and Mexico.