In consonance with the MHA Unlock 4.0 Order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 29th August, 2020, the Government of Karnataka has issued Guidelines for implementing Phased Re-opening of activities (Unlock 4), effective from 1st September, 2020 up to 30th September 2020.
1. Activities permitted during Unlock 4 period outside Containment Zones
All activities have been permitted outside Containment Zones, except the following:
(i) Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions for students and regular class activities to remain closed till 30th September, 2020. Online/ distance learning shall continue to be permitted and be encouraged;
(ii) From 21st September, 2020 onwards, the following will be permitted subject the specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which will be issued by the MoHFW and Primary and Secondary Education Department, Government of Karnataka:
a. District may permit upto 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called to the schools at a time for online teaching/ tele-counselling and related work, in areas outside the Containment Zones only;
b. Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, on voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers. This will be subject to written consent of their parents/ guardians;
(iii) Skill or Entrepreneurship training will be permitted in National Skill Training Institutes, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Short term training centres registered with National Skill Development Corporation or State Skill Development Missions or other Ministries of Government of India or State Government. National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and their training providers will also be permitted. These will be permitted from 21st September, 2020 onwards, subject to specific SOPs which will be issued by the MoHFW and Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Department, Government of Karnataka.
(iv) Higher Education Institutions only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and post-graduate students of technical and professional programmes requiring laboratory/ experimental works will be permitted by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) in consultation with MHA, based on the assessment of the situation, and keeping in view incidence of COVID-19 in the State.
(v) International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by MHA;
(vi) Metro rail will be allowed to operate with effect from 7th September, 2020 in a graded manner, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA)/ Ministry of Railways (MOR), in consultation with MHA. In this regard, SOP will be issued by MOHUA and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL);
(vii) Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, and similar places will remain closed. However, open air theatres will be permitted to open with effect from 21st September, 2020;
(viii) Social / political / sports / entertainment / academic / cultural / religious functions and other large congregations with a ceiling of 100 persons, will be permitted with effect from 21st September, 2020, with mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer.
Marriages and funeral gatherings must observe the restrictions notified earlier till 20th September, 2020, after which the ceiling of 100 persons will apply:
a. gatherings relating to marriage must not have guests exceeding 50 in number.
b. for funeral/ last rites related gatherings the number of persons must not exceed 20.
2. Lockdown limited to Containment Zones
(i) Lockdown shall continue to remain in force in the Containment Zones till 30th September,2020
(ii) Containment Zones will be demarcated by the BBMP / District authorities after taking into consideration the guidelines of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Karnataka with the objective of effectively breaking the chain of transmission.
(iii) In the Containment Zones, only essential activities will be allowed. There will be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services. In the Containment Zones, there shall be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance, and other clinical interventions, as required.
(iv) Containment Zones will be notified on the websites by the respective Commissioner, BBMP, Deputy Commissioners and information will be shared with MoHFW.
(v) Activities in the Containment Zones shall be monitored strictly by the BBMP/District authorities, and the guidelines related to containment measures in these zones shall be strictly implemented.
(vi) BBMP / District Authorities shall not impose any local lockdown (BBMP/ District/ Taluk/ ULB/ Village level), outside the Containment Zones, without prior consultation with the State Government and Central Government.
3. There shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods. No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements. People coming to Karnataka State from other States must strictly adhere to the prevailing Guidelines / SOPs issued by Department of Health and Family Welfare and Revenue Department.
4. Movement by passenger trains, domestic passenger air travel, Vande Bharat and Air Transport Bubble flights and sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers will continue to be regulated by SOPs issued earlier.
5. Persons above 65 years; with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below 10 years to stay at home, except for essential activities and health purposes;
6. Use of Aarogya Setu – With a view to ensuring safety in offices and work places, employers on best effort basis should ensure that Aarogta Setu is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones.
7. General Directives for COVID-19 Management:
• Face coverings: Wearing of face cover is compulsory in public places; in workplaces; and during transport. Fine of Rs. 200 in Municipal Corporation areas and Rs. 100 in other areas shall be imposed for not wearing face cover as required.
• Social Distancing: Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet (2 gaz ki doori) in public places; shops to ensure physical distancing among customers;
• Spitting in public places will be punishable with fine (as may be prescribed in accordance with laws, rules or regulations);
8. Additional requirements in all Workplaces:
• Work from home (WFH): As far as possible the practice of WFH should be followed;
• Staggering of work/business hours will be followed in offices, workplaces, shops, markets and industrial & commercial establishments;
• Screening & Hygiene: Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash or sanitizer will be made at all entry and exit points along with common areas;
• Frequent sanitization of entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact e.g. door handles etc., will be ensured, including between shifts;
• Social distancing: All persons in charge of workplaces to ensure adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff etc.
Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
Source: Government of Karnataka
