In consonance with the MHA Unlock 5.0 Order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 30th September, 2020, the Government of Karnataka has issued Guidelines for implementing phased re-opening of activities (Unlock 5), effective since 1st October, 2020 up to 31st October 2020.
1. Activities permitted during Unlock 5 period outside Containment Zones
All activities have been permitted outside Containment Zones, except the following, which are to be re-opened in a phased manner:
(i) Department of Primary and Secondary Education, Government of Karnataka, may take a decision in consultation with respective schools / institution management, in respect of re-opening of schools and coaching institutes, after 15th October 2020, in a graded manner;
Such decision must be based on the assessment of the situation and subject to the following conditions:
• Online / distance learning to continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and must be encouraged;
• Where schools are conducting online classes, and some students prefer to attend online classes rather than physically attend school, they may be permitted to do so;
• Students may attend schools/ institutions only with the written consent of parents;
• Attendance not to be enforced and should be on the basis of parental consent;
• Department of Primary and Secondary Education, Government of Karnataka shall consult with the Department of Health and Family Welfare and prepare standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding health and safety precautions for reopening of schools/ institutions. The SOP to be based on the SOP to be issued by Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India, keeping local requirements in view;
• Schools, which are allowed to open, must follow the SOP to be issued by the Department of Primary and Secondary Education, Government of Karnataka;
(ii) Department of Higher Education, Government of Karnataka, may decide on the timing of opening of Colleges / Higher Education Institutions, in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), based on the assessment of the situation. Online / distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged.
Higher Education Institutions, (only for research scholars (Ph.D) and post-graduate students in science and technology stream requiring laboratory / experimental works) will be permitted to open from 15th October, 2020, in a manner mentioned below:
a. For Centrally Funded Higher Education Institutions, the Head of Institution will satisfy herself / himself that there is a genuine requirement of research scholars (Ph. D) and post-graduate students in science and technology stream for laboratory/experimental works;
b. For all other Higher Education Institutions e.g. State Universities, Private Universities etc., they may open only for research scholars (Ph. D) and postgraduate students in science and technology stream requiring laboratory / experimental works as per decision to be taken by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Karnataka;
(iii) The following are permitted to open in areas outside Containment Zones, with effect from 15th October, 2020:
• Swimming pools used for training of sports persons; subject to adherence with the SOPs which will be issued by the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Karnataka and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYA&S), GOI;
• Cinemas / theatres / multiplexes permitted to open with fifty percent of their seating capacity; SOPs for the same will be issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Karnataka and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India;
• Entertainment Parks and similar places shall be permitted to open; SOPs for the same will be issued by the Health Department of Karnataka and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India;
• Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions have also been permitted, subject to adherence with SOPs which are to be issued by the Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Karnataka, and Department of Commerce, Government of India;
• Gatherings beyond the earlier limit of 100 persons to be permitted by BBMP / District Authorities provided that:
a. In closed places, a maximum of fifty percent of hall capacity will be allowed (with a ceiling of 200 persons), with mandatory social distancing, use of face masks, provision of thermal scanning and use of hand sanitizer;
b. In open spaces, considering the size of the ground/ space in view, there shall be strict observance of social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks along with provision of thermal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitizer;
Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka in consultation with the Home Department of Government of Karnataka will issue detailed SOPs to regulate such gatherings.
(iv) International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by MHA
2. Lockdown limited to Containment Zones
(i) Lockdown shall continue to remain in force in the Containment Zones till 31st October,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 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 by the concerned departments of Government of India;
5. Persons above 65 years, persons 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. Commissioner of BBMP / Deputy Commissioners are not permitted to dilute any of the measures mentioned in the guidelines;
8. For enforcement of social distancing, Commissioner of BBMP/ Deputy Commissioners may, as far as possible, impose fines mentioned in Annexure -1 of the attached Guidelines and use provisions of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
9. National Directives for COVID-19 Management:
• Face covering: Wearing of face cover is compulsory in public places; in workplaces; and during transport. Fine of Rs. 1000 in Municipal Corporation areas and Rs. 500 in other areas shall be imposed for not wearing face cover as required;
• Social Distancing: Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet (6 adi doora) 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);
10. 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 the above-mentioned 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
