Unlock 4.0: What to expect from Sept 1

Unlock 4.0, the fourth phase of opening of the economy after coronavirus lockdown will start from September 1.

This phase comes at a time when India’s Covid-19 tally has crossed the 3.46 million mark and the number of deaths due to the disease have gone up to 62,550.

Officials have said Unlock 4 guidelines, which will be announced later this week, only mention the activities which will be prohibited while the rest can resume.

Here is a look at what will change during Unlock 4.0:

• The Centre is likely to allow the resumption of metro services, which were halted since March 22, in Delhi and the NCR from September 1. A contactless ticketing system will be put in place and passengers will not be allowed to use tokens anymore.

• Flouting Covid-19 norms such as not wearing a mask, sitting on seats meant to be left vacant in order to maintain social distancing and spitting or littering on the station premises will attract hefty fines.

• Schools and colleges will remain to be shut, while bars will be allowed to serve liquor over the counter for takeaways.

• Cinema halls will also remain shut as it won’t be feasible to run shows with only 25-30% capacity due to physical distancing norms.

• In Karnataka, the academic year of colleges for various degree courses will commence from September 1 with online classes while offline classes may begin from October 1, the state government has said.

• Karnataka may push for opening cinema halls and allowing the sale of liquor in restaurants in relief to the hospitality sector.

• In Unlock 4.0, domestic flights from Covid-19 hotspots will be allowed to land in Kolkata. “We have received several requests to resume flight operations from six Covid-19 hotspot states. So from September 1, flight services from these six states (Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad) can resume thrice a week,” CM Mamata Banerjee said.

• While pubs and clubs are expected to open next month, West Bengal will be under complete lockdown twice a week.

• Local trains in Mumbai will not resume in this phase. Mumbai police have also warned motorists that they will impound vehicles if they cannot show a valid reason for being out.

• Chennai has announced that e-passes will be mandatory for inter-state and inter-district movement. Restrictions on liquor shops and hotels may be eased in the city in Unlock 4.0.