Jubilee Post News & Views
Jubilee News Desk
Ministry of home affairs (MHA) has issued new guidelines for opening up of more activities in areas outside the Containment Zones, which will come into effect from October 1.
Activities that will be permitted from October 15, in areas outside the Containment Zones include Cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes with upto 50% of their seating capacity, for which, SOP will be issued by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons will be permitted to open, for which the standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Entertainment parks and similar places will be permitted to open, for which the SOP will be issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
For re-opening of schools and coaching institutions, State/ UT Governments have been given the flexibility to take a decision after October 15, in a graded manner. The decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school/ institution management, based on their assessment of the situation.
Online/ distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged, said the guidelines. Where schools are conducting online classes, and some students prefer to attend online classes rather than physically attend school, they may be permitted to do so.
Students may attend schools/ institutions only with the written consent of parents. Attendance must not be enforced, and must depend entirely on parental consent.
Schools, which are allowed to open, will have to mandatorily follow the SOP to be issued by Education Departments of States/ UTs. Department of Higher Education (DHE), Ministry of Education may take a decision on the timing of the opening of Colleges/ Higher Education Institutions, in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), based on the assessment of the situation. Online/ distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged.
However, Higher Education Institutions only for research scholars (Ph.D) and post-graduate students in science and technology stream requiring laboratory/ experimental works will be permitted to open from October 15.
For all other Higher Education Institutions e.g. State Universities, Private Universities etc., they may open only for research scholars (Ph.D) and postgraduate students in science and technology stream requiring laboratory/experimental works as per decision to be taken by the respective State/UT Governments.
Social/ academic/ sports/ entertainment/ cultural/ religious/ political functions and other congregations have already been permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, outside Containment Zones only.
To ensure that such gatherings do not spread COVID-19, State/ UT Governments will issue detailed SOPs to regulate such gathering, and strictly enforce the same.
Lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the Containment Zones till October 31. Containment Zones shall be demarcated by the District authorities at micro level after taking into consideration the guidelines of MoHFW with the objective of effectively breaking the chain of transmission. Strict containment measures will be enforced in these containment zones and only essential activities will be allowed.
State/ UT Governments shall not impose any local lockdown (State/ District/ sub-division/City/ village level), outside the containment zones, without prior consultation with the Central Government.
Vulnerable persons, i.e., persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, are advised to stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes.
