Lockdown in Containment Zones till Sep 30: What reopens, what remains closed

Announcing Unlock 4.0 guidelines, the Centre said Metro Rail services can be started from September 7, while open-air theatre can be opened from September 21. The Ministry of Home Affairs has released a set of guidelines for ‘Unlock 4’ to be followed till September 30. Apart from the resumption of Metro services, public gatherings including social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural and religious will be permitted from September 21 with a ceiling of 100 persons. However, such gatherings can be held with mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizers. 

Besides, open air theatres will also be permitted to open from September 21. Schools and colleges will remain closed till september 30, according to the guidelines. However, states and union territories may permit upto 50% of teaching and non teaching staff to be called to school for online teaching related work. This will only be allowed for areas outside the containment zones with effect from September 21."The process of phased re-opening of activities will be extended further and new guidelines, will be based on feedback received from states and UTs and extensive consultations with related Central Ministries and Departments," a senior government official told ANI.