Fresh guidelines for district-wise unlocking

The Union health ministry on Tuesday laid down new rules for taking a district out of lockdown-like curbs imposed due to coronavirus disease. Many state government imposed strict curbs to check the spread of the infection when second wave of Covid-19 was at its peak. According to new guidelines  unlocking would depend on less then 5% positivity rate in the district being considered for opening up. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the positivity rate should remain below 5% for at least two weeks before an outbreak can be considered to be under control.

The guidelines further say that 70% of the vulnerable population - those above the age of 60 and 45 and above with comorbidities - must have received vaccination doses. The rules also call for community ownership of Covid-appropriate behaviour. As per the revised guidelines, which would come into effect from June 2, shops dealing in essential items like grocery, vegetables, dairy products, meat and fish, will be allowed to do business from 6am to 2pm.