Govt : No Restriction on Inter-State and Intra-State Movement. Fresh Guidelines Issued till 31 December 2020
Ministry of Home Affairs has Issued Fresh Guidelines Read Below in PDF
MHAOrder25112020Download PDF from below link
Download PDF from below link
1) Metro rail will be allowed to operate in a graded manner from September 7
2) Schools, colleges, swimming pools and indoor theatres will remain closed. This phase, called “Unlock 4”, will be in effect till September 30.
3) Social, political, academic, sports, religious and other functions will be allowed with a limit of 100 people as part of the new rules from September 21. Schools, colleges, swimming pools and indoor theatres will remain closed. This phase, called “Unlock 4”, will be in effect till September 30.
4) 50 per cent of teaching and non-teaching staff can be called to schools at a time for online teaching.
5) Skill or entrepreneurship training will be allowed in institutes registered with the government.
6) Research scholars and post-graduate students of technical and professional programmes who need laboratory practicals will be permitted by the government.
7) Movie theatres, swimming pools, entertainment parks will remain shut.
8) International air travel of passengers will remain banned, except for those allowed by the centre.
9) Only essential services will be allowed in containment zones. Lockdown will continue in the containment zones till September 30.
10) The government issued the guidelines of “Unlock4” today and said in a statement that the new rules are based on feedback from states and union territories and after consultations with central ministries.
11) No restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods. No separate permission or e-permits will be required.
The country has been recording the world’s highest daily spike in coronavirus figures since early this month. Over the last four days, there was been an uptick in the number of daily new cases, the positivity rate and the “R” or reproduction rate – the measure of how many people are infected by one infected person.
Media Production is a major economic activity that has contributed immensely to the GDP of our country. Given the current COVID – 19 Pandemic, it is crucial that various stake holders involved in activities of Media Production take suitable measures to restrict the transmission of the pandemic, while at the same time resuming/conducting their operations and activities.
The Ministry of I&B, in consultation with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, has prepared the Guiding Principles and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on preventive measures for Media Production, released today by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi.
The highlights of the guiding principles include the general principles which have been given by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare including inter alia non-essential activities not allowed in the containment zone in COVID-19, employees with high risk to take extra precautions, as also use of face covers/masks, frequent hand washing, provision of hand sanitizers etc. and respiratory etiquettes specifically with regard to the Media Production.
The Ministry has formulated the general SOPs taking into consideration international practices notified in the sector including physical distancing, designated entry and exit for shoot locations, sanitization, safety of staff, contact minimization and following of travel related guidelines issued by MHA including quarantine/isolation. Specifically, with regard to face masks, as per international practices, face mask has been made mandatory for cast and crew except for actors in front of the camera.
Given the current COVID-19 outbreak in India, it is important that various
stakeholders involved in the activities of media production take suitable
measures to restrict transmission of the virus while conducting their
operations and activities
This document outlines guiding principles conveyed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) which are applicable for activities permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as per MHA orders issued under Disaster Management Act, 2005 from time to time. These guiding principles are followed by domain-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be ensured during activities of Media Production to prevent spread of COVID-19.
No media production activity shall be allowed in containment zones.
Further, States /UTs may consider proposing additional measures as per their field assessment.
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has following guiding principles:
a) Non-essential activities shall not be allowed in containment zones for
COVID-19.
b) All employees who are at higher risk, i.e., older employees, pregnant
employees, employees who have underlying medical conditions, to take
extra precautions. They should preferably not be exposed to any front-line
work requiring direct contact with the public.
c) Use of face covers/masks at all public and workplaces to be made
mandatory. [However, this is subject to domain-specific SOP on Media
Production at para 4 (v) (a).]
d) Practice frequent hand washing with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) even when hands are not visibly dirty. Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20 seconds) can be made wherever feasible.
e) Provisions for hand sanitization (using hand sanitizers) should be made
available at entry points and in work areas.
f) Spitting shall be strictly prohibited.
g) Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves strict practice
of covering one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/
handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing off used tissues properly.
h) Installation and use of Arogya Setu App shall be advised to all.
i) Thermal screening of visitors/staff is to be carried out at entry points and
only asymptomatic individuals shall be allowed to enter the premises.
j) Physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed as far as feasible at all
locations at all times, while sitting, standing in queues, etc.
k) Proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises
duly following social distancing norms shall be ensured.
l) Specific markings may be made with sufficient distance to manage the
queue and ensure social distancing in the premises.
m) Provisions must be made for display of Posters/standees/AV media on
preventive measures about COVID-19 prominently outside and inside of
the venues.
n) Seating arrangement, if any to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained.
o) No-contact transaction (for issue/verification of tickets, etc.) should be
preferred by using online bookings, use of e-wallets, QR code scanners, if
feasible.
p) Number of people in the elevators shall be restricted, duly maintaining
social distancing norms.
q) Frequent sanitization of the entire workplace, common facilities, and all
points which come into human contact, e.g. handles, railings, etc. shall be
ensured. Disinfection of the premises to be taken up if the person is found
positive.
r) Self-monitoring of health by all and reporting any illness at the earliest.
s) For air-conditioning/ventilation, the guidelines of CPWD shall be followed
which, inter alia, emphasizes that the (i) temperature sitting of all air
conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30°C, (ii) relative
humidity should be in the range of 40-70%, (iii) recirculation of air to be avoided to the extent possible, (iv) intake of fresh air should be as much as
possible, and (v) cross ventilation should be adequate.
t) Suitable provisions may be made for temporary isolation of any suspect
case that may get reported.
In addition to the Guiding Principles issued by MoHFW at para 2 above, following
guidelines shall also be adhered to for Media Production:
i. Physical distancing
a. Physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed as far as feasible at all
locations at all times, while sitting, standing in queues, etc. These include
places such as shoot locations, sound recording studios, editing rooms, etc.
b. Aspects such as scenes, sequences, set-ups, camera locations, positions of
various crew members, seating arrangements, food and catering
arrangements, staggered meal timings, etc. shall be planned while giving due consideration to physical distancing norms.
c. Measures shall be taken by the production team to involve minimum number of cast and crew members during the shoot.
d. Visitors and audience shall not be allowed on sets.
e. For outdoor shooting, necessary coordination with the local authorities shall be ensured to minimize and manage the spectators.
f. Resting or stay-over facilities shall be planned while adhering to physical
distancing guidelines.
g. Staggered call and pack-up timings for different production units shall be
ensured by studios having multiple sets.
ii. Designated Entry & Exit
There shall be designated entry and exit points for all shoot locations and
other workplaces.
iii. Sanitization
a. Common locations such as sets, cafeteria, make-up rooms, edit rooms,
vanity vans, washrooms, etc. shall be sanitized regularly.
b. Sensitive equipment, while keeping in consideration the delicate nature and technical feasibility, shall be sanitized, to the extent possible, before and after the shoot.
c. Measures for the safety of sanitization staff such as adequate provisions for rational use of gloves, boots, masks, PPE, etc. shall be undertaken.
iv. Human Resource related measures
a. As far as possible, the practice of work from home should be followed.
b. Communication and training on precautions related to COVID-19 shall be
conducted with the cast, crew, and all other staff.
c. Do’s and Don’ts shall be communicated at prominent points at the
workplace using information boards, posters, and infographics.
v. Contact Minimization
a. Face cover/ mask are mandatory for cast and crew, except for actors in
front of the camera.
b. Sharing of costumes, hair wigs, makeup items, equipment, etc. should be
kept at a minimum.
c. Make-up artists and hair stylists shall use relevant PPE. Artists should be
encouraged to do their hair styling and make-up remotely with the help of
professionals.
d. Persons handling or working with common/shared equipment shall wear
disposable gloves. Efforts should be made to encourage wearing of gloves
among other members of the cast and crew as well.
e. Lavalier lapel mics may be avoided and shall never be shared. Direct
physical contact with the diaphragm of other mics shall be avoided.
f. Efforts shall be made to minimize the use of props. Sanitization of props
shall be done before and after use.
vi. Supervisor/COVID Coordinator
A designated supervisor shall be nominated from among the cast and the
crew. (S)he shall:
a. Keep record of the zone (Red/Orange/Green) where the workplace
exists.
b. Ensure that all concerned have installed and updated Arogya Setu app
on their mobiles.
c. Monitor the contacts between various personnel, observance of
precautions and sanitation protocols.
d. Keep a record of the medical history, travel history and a check on
health of the cast and crew.
e. Identify hospitals/clinics/testing facilities, in the nearby areas, which
are authorized to treat and/or test suspect COVID-19 cases. (S)he shall
contact the nearest health facility in case of health contingencies such
as any person developing symptoms of COVID-19.
f. Earmark quarantine areas for isolating employees showing symptoms
of COVID-19 till they are safely moved to medical facilities.
g. Support the health authorities for contact tracing in case of
contingencies.
vii. Anti-stigma Behaviour
COVID-19 related stigmatization or unruly behaviour shall be dealt with
strictly in coordination with the local authorities.
viii. Travel
Travel related guidelines and SOPs issued by the MHA, Ministry of Civil
Aviation, Ministry of Railways, state governments, etc. shall be adhered to
strictly.
ix. Quarantine/Isolation
Suitable provisions may be made for temporary isolation of any suspect case that may get reported.
x. Air-Conditioning/Cooling
Latest “Guidelines for Running of Air Circulation, Air cooling and Air
Conditioning Equipment during COVID-19” as issued by the Central Public
Works Department shall be followed. Currently applicable guidelines are
available at https://cpwd.gov.in/WriteReadData/other_cir/45567.pdf.
The National Directives for COVID-19 Management and the relevant guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, state governments, etc. shall be strictly complied with during all activities and operations.
The Centre has asked the States that there should be no restrictions imposed on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods and services during the present prevailing Unlock-3 guidelines.
In a communication to Chief Secretaries of all States today, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has stated that it has been reported that local level restrictions on movement are being imposed by various districts/States. Such restrictions are creating problems in inter-State movement of goods and services and are impacting the supply chain, resulting in disruption of economic activities and employment, besides affecting supply of goods and services.
The MHA has said such restrictions at local level imposed by District Administrations or by States, amount to violation of the guidelines issued by the MHA under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Drawing attention to the MHA’s Order dated July 29, 2020 specifying Guidelines for Unlock-3, the communication reiterates that 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. This includes movement of persons and goods for cross land border trade under Treaties with neighbouring countries.
Extension of Lockdown up to May 31, 2020
States to decide various Zones and Activities to be allowed in these Zones; Certain activities to remain prohibited throughout the Country
National Directives for COVID-19 Management continue to be in force throughout the Country
Night Curfew to continue to remain in force
Under the new guidelines, States and Union Territories (UTs) will now delineate Red, Green and Orange zones taking into consideration the parameters shared by the Health Ministry. The zones can be a district, or a municipal corporation/ municipality or even smaller administrative units such as sub-divisions, etc, as decided by States and UTs.
Within the red and orange zones, containment and buffer zones will be demarcated by the local authorities, after taking into consideration the Health Ministry guidelines.
Within the containment zones, only essential activities shall be allowed. Strict perimeter control shall be maintained, and no movement of persons would be allowed, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services. Buffer zones are areas adjoining each containment zone, where new cases are more likely to appear. In the buffer zones, more caution needs to be exercised.
Activities Prohibited throughout the Country
A limited number of activities will continue to remain prohibited throughout the country. These include
However, online/ distance learning shall be permitted and encouraged; and, restaurants will be allowed to operate kitchens for home delivery of food items.
Opening up of Sports Activities
Sports complexes and stadia will be permitted to open only for sports activities. However, spectators will not be allowed in these complexes.
Activities permitted with restrictions
In order to facilitate the movement of persons, various modes of transport have already been opened up. Movement of individuals by trains has been permitted earlier by MHA through an order dated 11.05.2020. Further, evacuation of foreign nationals from India, return of stranded Indian nationals from abroad, sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers, and intra-State and inter-State movement of stranded persons by bus and train, will continue to be allowed.
Inter-State movement of vehicles and buses has also been allowed with mutual consent of the concerned States/ UTs. Intra-State movement of vehicles and buses can be decided by the States and UTs.
National Directives for COVID-19 management
The guidelines specify the National Directives for COVID-19 management, which shall apply to public places and work places.
Under these guidelines, wearing of face covers is compulsory; spitting will be punishable with fine as may be prescribed in accordance with its laws, rules or regulations by the State/ UT local authority; and social distancing is to be followed by all persons in public places and in transport. Marriage related gathering shall not have more than 50 guests. For funerals/ last rites, the maximum number of persons allowed has been kept at 20. Consumption of liquor, paan, gutkha and tobacco etc., is not allowed in public places.
The National Directives also stipulate additional requirements for work places. The practice of work from home (WfH) should be followed to the extent possible; and staggering of work hours should be adopted in respect of all offices and other establishments. There should be provision for thermal scanning, hand wash and sanitizers at all entry and exit points and common areas; and all work places and other sensitive locations are to be sanitized regularly. In work places, social distancing would also need to be ensured through adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch break of staff and so on.
Stipulations regarding Shops and Markets
Local authorities should ensure that shops and markets open with staggered timings, so as to ensure social distancing. All shops shall also have to ensure six feet distance (2 gaz ki doori) among customers and also not allow more than 5 persons at one time.
Night Curfew
Night Curfew shall continue to remain in force on the movement of individuals, for all non-essential activities, between 7 pm and 7 am.
Protection for Vulnerable Persons
Vulnerable persons, i.e., persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, shall stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes.
All activities to be Permitted other than the limited number of those that are prohibited or restricted
All other activities will be permitted except those which are specifically prohibited under these guidelines. However, in containment zones, only essential activities shall be allowed, as mentioned earlier.
States to decide on activities within various Zones
States/ UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain other activities in the various zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary.
Use of Aarogya Setu
The Aarogya Setu mobile application is a powerful tool built by Government of India to facilitate quick identification of persons infected by COVID-19, or at risk of being infected, thus acting as a shield for individuals and the community. With a view to ensure safety in offices and work places, employers on best effort basis should ensure that the application is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones.
District authorities have been asked to advise individuals to install the Aarogya Setu application on compatible mobile phones and regularly update their health status on the app. This will facilitate timely provision of medical attention to those individuals who are at risk. State/ UT Governments shall continue to strictly enforce the lockdown guidelines and they shall not dilute these guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in any manner.
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