The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday issued fresh COVID-19 guidelines for surveillance, containment and caution even as the daily recovered cases in the country have been surpassing daily new cases in the last 20 days.
“Social, religious, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural and religious gatherings have already been permitted up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity, with a ceiling of 200 persons in closed spaces; and keeping of the size of the ground or space in view, in open spaces. Now, such gatherings will be allowed subject to SOP of the state or the UT concerned,” the ministry said in a statement.
It said the cinema halls and theatres have already been permitted up to 50 per cent of seating capacity. Now they will be permitted to operate at higher seating capacity, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in consultation with MHA.
Swimming pools, which have already been permitted for use of sports persons, now will be permitted for use of all, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Business to Business (B2B) exhibition halls have already been permitted. Now, according to the ministry, all types of exhibition halls will be permitted, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce.
The home ministry said for further opening up of international air travel of passengers, the Ministry of Civil Aviation may take a decision in consultation with the MHA based on the assessment of the situation.
There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods including those for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission, approval or e-permit will be required for such movements.
As on January 27, more than20 lakh (20,29,480) beneficiaries have received the shots under the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination exercise.
In a span of 24 hours, 5,671 people were vaccinated across 194 sessions. A total of 36,572 sessions have been conducted so far, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
