The Center announced on Wednesday new guidelines for the reopening of various activities, such as the re-opening of cinemas, entertainment parks, schools and universities, among other things.
Since the country entered a complete lockdown in late March this year as a precaution against the growing spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), the Center has announced significant relaxations in phases. Although there has been an increase in Covid-19 cases in India, the government had ensured that there would be more relaxations.
These are the full features of the new guidelines:
Activities allowed as of October 15, 2020, in areas outside the Containment Zones:
– Cinemas / theaters / multiplexesThey will be allowed to open with up to 50% of their seating capacity, for which the SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
– The opening of Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions will be allowed, for which the Commerce Department will issue SOPs.
– The opening of swimming pools used for the training of athletes will be allowed, for which the standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYA & S).
– The opening of entertainment parks and similar places will be allowed, for which the SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
– Opening of schools, colleges, educational institutions and training institutions.
– For the reopening of schools and training institutions, state / UT governments have had the flexibility to make a decision after October 15, 2020, in a graduated manner. The decision will be made in consultation with the leadership of the respective school / institution, based on their assessment of the situation, and subject to the following conditions:
– Online / distance learning will continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and will be encouraged.
– When schools offer classes online and some students prefer to attend classes online rather than physically attending school, they may be allowed to do so.
– Students may attend schools / institutions only with the written consent of the parents.
– Attendance must not be enforced and must be entirely dependent on parental consent.
– States / UTs will prepare their own SOP regarding health and safety precautions for the reopening of schools / institutions based on the SOP to be issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India , keeping the local requirements in ver.
– Schools, which may open, must compulsorily follow the SOP that will be issued by the State / UT Departments of Education.
The Department of Higher Education (DHE), the Ministry of Education can make a decision on the timing of the opening of universities / higher education institutions, in consultation with the Ministry of the Interior (MHA), based on the assessment of the situation . Online / distance learning will continue to be the preferred mode of instruction and will be encouraged.
However, institutions of higher education only for research scholars (Ph.D) and graduate students in science and technology requiring laboratory / experimental work will be able to open as of October 15, 2020, as indicated in:
For centrally funded institutions of higher education, the director of the institution will ensure that there is a genuine requirement for academic researchers (PhDs) and science and technology graduate students for laboratory / experimental work.
For all other institutions of higher education, for example, state universities, private universities, etc., they can be opened only for academic researchers (doctorates) and graduate students in science and technology that require laboratory / experimental work depending on the decision you make the respective State. / Governments of UT.
– Regulation of gatherings
Social / academic / sports / entertainment / cultural / religious / political functions and other congregations have already been allowed with a maximum limit of 100 people, only outside the Containment Zones. State / UT governments have now been given the flexibility to allow such gatherings beyond the 100-person limit, outside Containment Zones, after October 15, 2020, which will be subject to the following conditions:
In closed spaces a maximum of 50% of the capacity of the room will be allowed, with a ceiling of 200 people. The use of face masks, the maintenance of social distancing, the provision of thermal scanning and the use of hand washing or disinfectant will be mandatory.
In open spaces, keeping the size of the floor / space in view, and with strict observance of social distancing, mandatory use of face masks, provision for thermal scanning and hand washing or disinfectant.
To ensure that such meetings do not spread Covid-19, state / UT governments will issue detailed SOPs to regulate and strictly enforce the meeting.
All activities, except the following, will be allowed outside the containment areas:
– International passenger air travel, except as permitted by MHA.
– Entertainment parks and similar places will be closed.
– The blockade will continue to be strictly implemented in the Containment Zones until October 31, 2020.
– The Containment Zones will be delimited by the District authorities at the micro level after taking into consideration the MoHFW guidelines with the objective of effectively breaking the transmission chain. Strict containment measures will be applied in these containment zones and only essential activities will be allowed.
Within containment zones, strict perimeter control will be maintained and only essential activities will be allowed.
These Containment Zones will be notified on the websites of the respective District Collectors and by the States / UT, and the information will also be shared with the MOHFW.
– States should not impose any local lockouts outside of containment zones.
State / UT governments will not impose any local closures (state / district / subdivision / city / town), outside of the containment zones, without prior consultation with the central government.
– No restriction to interstate and intrastate movement
There will be no restrictions on the interstate and intrastate movement of people and goods. No separate electronic permission / approval / permission will be required for such moves.
National directives for the management of Covid-19
The National Directives for the management of Covid-19 throughout the country will continue to be complied with, with a view to ensuring social distancing. Stores must maintain an adequate physical distance between customers. MHA will oversee the effective implementation of the National Directives.
Protection of vulnerable people
Vulnerable people, i.e. people over 65 years of age, people with comorbidities, pregnant women and children under 10 years of age, are advised to stay at home, except to meet essential requirements and for reasons of Health.
Use of Aarogya Setu
The use of the Aarogya Setu mobile application will continue to be encouraged.
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