Home Ministry Releases Unlock 5.0 Guidelines; Eases Lockdown Further

With the existing regulations in place, Union Home Ministry on September 30 released the additional guidelines under Unlock 5.0, which will come into effect from October 1. The relaxations will only apply to the non-containment zones. The states and the union territories are allowed to take decisions on the re-opening of the schools and training institutes after October 15. However, colleges and other higher education institutes will be opened after the announcement of the Education Ministry. The institutes are allowed to operate only after following the standard operating procedures; however, online education is encouraged. For any gatherings, the state and UT governments can allow more than 100 persons for outdoor events and 50% of the hall capacity for indoor events. This includes the reopening of cinema halls and malls too. Swimming pools will be allowed to open but only for training swimmers. Unlock 5.0 aims to ease the lockdown restrictions further.