Government’s directionless ‘Unlock2’ begins

The COVID-19 graph is sharply increasing in India but government is still not proactive, after the failed experiments of lockdown and unlock1, government has now implemented Unlock2 and again without direction and strategy, no enhancements in ventilators, testing and preventive measures has been announced by the government

The Covid situation remains serious,and the government goes on without any direction. The "unlocking" process has been paused with fresh guidelines stating that the lockdown shall continue to be strictly implemented in all containment zones till July 31.

1. Unlock2 begins with no major strategy

Starting on July 1st, Unlock2 guidelines show that government has not made any significant changes in the previous Unlock1 with opening of schools & colleges, international passenger flights, Metro rail services, cinema halls, gymnasiums as well as social, political and religious congregations remaining barred.

2. Unlock2 seems to be sequel of unlock1

The Unlock 2.0 guidelines issued by the home ministry on Monday under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 for the next one month have just relaxed the night curfew timings to between 10pm and 5am instead of 9pm to 5am earlier.

3.The night curfew has been relaxed for one hour

In an important change, there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons & goods and no separate "permission/ approval/e-permit" will be required for such movement.In the previous guidelines, the MHA had allowed states to bar movement on the ground of an apprehension of a health situation.

4. Restrictions have been lifted on inter-state and intra-state movement

The Unlock 2.0 guidelines — which the MHA said seek to open up more activities in areas outside containment zones — have lifted the restriction of five people at a time in all shops. Depending on their area, they can now have more people at a time.

5. The shops outside containment zones can have more people in all shops

However, they will have to maintain adequate physical distance between the shoppers. The national directives on Covid-19 management continue to require mandatory wearing of face covers in public places, workplaces and during transport.

6.National directives on Covid-19 continue to be maintained

Also, as per the new norms, the health ministry will monitor proper delineation of containment zones and implementation of containment measures. This was left to the states/UT administrations under Unlock 1.0 guidelines.

7. Containment zones will be now monitored by Union health ministry

The covid-19 cases are increasing at a record high pace with no respite in the number of deaths but the government still has not made clear plans for controlling the virus spread

8. The cases are spiking high and no new measures are being chalked out

The incidents of carelessness by the hospitals and government authorities are continuously being shared by Covid-19 affected patients and their families.

9.Hospitals and authorities in many places still remain non-serious in providing care to the patients

The home ministry said dates for restarting all activities barred in non-containment areas till July 31 may be decided separately based on the assessment of the situation and necessary standard operating procedures may be issued for ensuring social distancing and to contain the spread of COVID-19.

10 MHA said that situation will be separately assessed for non-containment zones

Unlock 2 shows no plans for increased testing of the people to stop the spread of virus and it also shows no readiness to improve and enhance the ICU units and ventilators

11. No increase in testing and ventilators is specified in the Unlock

Stating that the use of Aarogya Setu mobile application will continue to be encouraged, the home ministry guidelines ask employers to get their employees to install it "on a best effort basis".

12.Aarogya Setu app seems to be the only tool government is relying upon to control the pandemic

The government has not clarified on how the unlock 1 helped in reviving the economy amid the rising numbers of coronavirus

13 No clarification has been made on the revival of economy