New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new guidelines for Unlock 2.0 on late Monday evening, directing the schools, colleges, Metro and cinema halls to remain closed till July 31.

‘After extensive consultation with the States and UTs, it has been decided that schools, colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed till July 31, 2020,’ the new guidelines said.

According to the new norms, the Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places, social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations will remain closed till July 31.

International air travel has been permitted in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission. Further opening up will take place in a calibrated manner, whereas domestic flights and passenger trains have already been allowed in a limited manner. Their operations will be further expanded, also in a phased manner.

Night curfew timings are being further relaxed and curfew shall be in force from 2200 hrs to 0500 hrs. Further, relaxations in night curfew have been given for seamless operation of industrial units in multiple shifts, movement of persons and goods on National and State Highways, loading and unloading of cargo and movement of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and airplanes.
Shops, depending upon their area, can have more than five persons at a time. However, they have to maintain adequate physical distance.

Training institutions of the Central and State Governments will be allowed to function with effect from July 15, 2020. The Standard operating Procedure (SOP) in this regard will be issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India, added the new norms.