Corona Updates: Malls, hotels, places of worship can reopen on June 8 | bars, gyms still prohibited in Unlock 1.

Corona Updates: In its first clear message that the lockdown is being unwound, the Centre on Saturday issued ‘Unlock 1’ guidelines allowing a phased re-opening of most activities across the country, lockdown only to containment zones for a month till June 30.

Not only do the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs allow re-opening of malls, hotels, restaurants and places of worship from June 8 in Phase I of unwinding, they also allow unfettered movement of goods and persons between states and within states.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will issue standard operating procedures for all these activities which are now being permitted. The guidelines said schools, colleges would be re-opened in consultation with states and Union Territories in Phase II.

Some activities will continue to remain prohibited, though. These include international air travel of passengers, operation of Metro Rail; Cinema halls, Gyms, swimming pools, entertainment parks, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places and other large congregations. In Phase III, dates for their opening will be decided based on assessment of the situation, the guidelines said.