New Delhi, May 30, 2020
Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new guidelines to fight COVID-19 and for
phased re-opening of areas outside the Containment Zones, today. The guidelines would
come into effect from June 1, 2020, and would be effective till June 30, 2020. The current
phase of re-opening, Unlock 1, will have an economic focus. The new guidelines have been
issued based on extensive consultations held with States and UTs.
A strict lockdown was imposed throughout the country since March 24, 2020. All activities
were prohibited except for essential activities. Subsequently, in a graded manner and keeping the
overarching objective of containing the spread of COVID-19 in view, the lockdown measures
have been relaxed.
Salient features of the new guidelines
Lockdown measures would continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones.
These will be demarcated by the State/ UT Governments, after taking into consideration the
guidelines issued by the Health Ministry. Within the containment zones, strict perimeter
control shall be maintained and only essential activities allowed.
All activities that were prohibited earlier would be opened up in areas outside Containment
Zones in a phased manner, with the stipulation of following Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs), to be prescribed by the Health Ministry:
Phase I (permitted to open from June 8, 2020)
• Religious places and places of worship for public;
• Hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services; and
• Shopping malls.
Health Ministry would issue SOPs for the above activities, in consultation with the Central
Ministries/ Departments concerned and other stakeholders, for ensuring social distancing and
to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Phase II
Schools, colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions, etc., will be opened after
consultations with States and UTs. State Governments/ UT administrations are being advised
to hold consultations at the institution level with parents and other stakeholders. Based on the
feedback, a decision on the re-opening of these institutions will be taken in the month of July,
2020. MoHFW will prepare SOP for these institutions.
A limited number of activities to remain prohibited throughout the country
• International air travel of passengers;
• Operation of Metro Rail;
• Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and
auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places; and,
• Social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions/ and other
large congregations.
• Dates for the opening of the above activities would be decided in Phase III, based on
assessment of the situation.
Unrestricted Movement of Persons and Goods
• No restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods. No separate
permission/ approval/ e-permit would be required for such movements.
• However, if a State/ UT, based on reasons of public health and its assessment of the
situation, proposes to regulate the movement of persons, it would give wide publicity in
advance regarding the restrictions to be placed on such movement, and the related
procedures to be followed.
Night curfew would continue to remain in force, on the movement of individuals, for all
non-essential activities. However, the revised timings of the curfew will be from 9 pm to 5
am.
National Directives for COVID-19 management would continue to be followed throughout
the country, with a view to ensure social distancing.
States to decide on activities outside Containment Zones
States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain activities
outside the Containment zones or impose such restrictions, as deemed necessary.
Protection for vulnerable persons
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.
Use of Aarogya Setu
The Aarogya Setu mobile application is a powerful tool built by the Government of India to
facilitate quick identification of persons infected by COVID-19, or at risk of being infected,
thus acting as a shield for individuals and the community. With a view to ensuring safety,
various authorities are advised to encourage the use of the application.
To see the MHA Guidelines⇓
“visit the official website of MHA”
