Update from June 30, 2020: “Unlock 2.0” until the end of July
The easing of the lockdown is entering the next phase: yesterday the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) published the guidelines for the second phase of easing, which ends on July 31.
All activities are permitted outside containment zones, with the exception of the following:
- Schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions will remain closed until July 31, government training institutions can resume operations from July 15
- International air traffic
- Metro
- Cinemas, swimming pools, fitness centers, amusement parks, etc.
- Meetings and events
As for rail services, only special trains are still running, while regular trains will remain suspended until August 12.
Depending on the level of infection, individual states may tighten guidelines and limit permitted activities.
Update from June 1, 2020: Lockdown 5.0 with “unlock phases”
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regulation on the next stage of easing the lockdown, published last Saturday, provides for the continuation of the lockdown until June 30 only for the containment zones. For all other zones and areas, the majority of activities are now permitted, and the lifting of the remaining restrictions is planned in 3 phases:
Phase I
From June 8, religious places such as temples and mosques, hotels, restaurants and shopping centers will be allowed to open.
Phase II
Schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions will reopen in July.
Phase III
After assessing the current situation, this phase will determine the dates for the resumption of international air traffic and the metro, as well as the reopening of cinemas, swimming pools, fitness centers, amusement parks, etc. It will also be decided when larger gatherings and events will be permitted again.
The final decision remains with the respective states/union territories and appropriate official guidelines will be published for all the above activities to maintain social distancing and contain the further spread of COVID-19.
On May 1, the Indian government ordered the extension of the national lockdown until May 17. The restrictions vary from region to region, depending on whether the district is a “red” (hotspot), “orange” or “green” zone. In the corresponding decree of the Ministry of HomeAffairs (MHA) defines the activities permitted in the respective zones.
The main relaxations are:
- Individuals are now allowed to move around in all zones, four-wheeled vehicles that carry a maximum of 2 people in addition to the driver are allowed to operate, as are two-wheelers (with only one person in red zones, otherwise also with a passenger)
- Industrial activities may be resumed in all special economic zones, export oriented units, industrial areas and industrial communities
- Private offices with up to 33% of staff are in red and orange zones, in green zones full operations may resume
Update from May 18th
Yesterday, the Indian government announced the fourth extension of the Lockdowns ordered until May 31st. With Lockdown 4.0, the majority of decisions now lie with the federal states and union territories (similar to Germany). They take the necessary measures in accordance with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare defined parameters for the division of their districts into “red”, “green” and “orange” zones.
Significant relaxations can be seen in passenger transport: vehicles and buses are allowed to travel again within a state or between states.
This means that the requirements of the respective state are now also decisive when resuming business activities. The first states, such as Karnataka and Delhi, have already published guidelines for extending the lockdown. These show that In principle, the restart of business activities is permitted even with 100% of the workforce, provided that both a (which we have already cited many times) Hygiene concept as well as a concept for restarting machines and systems must be drawn up, implemented and adhered to.