Haryana to Strictly Implement Guidelines Issued By MHA

Chandigarh, May 19: Haryana Government has issued directions for the strict implementation of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the measures to be taken by the States for containment of COVID-19 in the country during the extended lockdown period up to May 31, 2020.

Sharing more information, an official spokesperson said that in addition to these guidelines issued by the Center Government, the State/UTs based on their assessment of the situation, would prohibit certain other activities in the various zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary.

The Spokesman said that during the fourth phase of lockdown, activities would be permitted with restrictions, except in the Containment Zones. All states and Union Territories can allow the movement of passenger vehicles and buses from one state to another with mutual consent by implementing Standard Operating Procedures for the movement of people, he added.

He said that the delineation of Red, Green, and Orange Zones would be decided by the State Government and in these Zones, the containment and buffer zones would be demarcated by the District Authority. In the Containment Zone, only essential activities would be allowed and there shall be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these Zones, except for medical emergency and for maintaining the supply of essential goods and services, he added.

He said that the movement of individuals would remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm and 7 am, except for essential activities. Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, are advised to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes.

The Spokesman said that with a view to ensuring safety in offices and workplaces, employers should ensure that the Aarogya Setu app is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones and regularly update their health status on the app.

He further said that inter-State and intra-State movement of medical professionals, nurses, and paramedical staff, sanitation personnel, and ambulances would be allowed without any restriction. In addition, the inter-State movement of all types of goods and cargo, including empty trucks would be allowed.

The Spokesman said that all domestic and international air travel of passengers, metro rail services, schools, colleges, educational, training, and coaching institutes would remain closed during this period. Hotels, restaurants, and other guest services would remain closed. But the canteens would be allowed to run at bus depots, railway stations, and airports.

The restaurants would be allowed to run the kitchen for home delivery of food items. All cinema halls, shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools, amusement parks, theaters, bars, auditorium halls, etc. would remain closed. Sports complexes and stadiums would be allowed to open, however, spectators would not be allowed. All social, political, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural, religious works, other gatherings, and conferences would be banned. Similarly, all religious places and places of worship would remain closed to the people and religious meetings would be banned.

It would be mandatory for people to wear face masks at all public and workplaces. Consumption of alcohol, paan, gutka, tobacco, etc. would not be allowed in public places and spitting would be a punishable offense. At least six feet distance would be ensured between the customers at the shops and no more than five persons would be allowed to gather at the same time.