Unlock 5.0: States to decide reopening of schools. colleges after 15 Oct

Sept. 30: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced on Wednesday, a detailed guideline of Unlock 5, to be effective from 1 October. The new guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), are based on feedback received from States and UTs, and extensive consultations held with related Central Ministries & Departments. Unlock 5.0 is likely to become the most crucial as a number of religious festivals are scheduled in October, including Durga Puja.

Activities permitted outside the Containment Zones: In areas outside the Containment Zones, all activities will be permitted, except the following:

1) State/ UT Governments may take a decision in respect of re-opening of schools and coaching institutions, after 15th October 2020, in a graded manner. The decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school/ institution management, based on their assessment of the situation, and subject to the following conditions:

• Online/ distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged.
• 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.
• States /UTs will prepare their own standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding health and safety precautions for reopening of schools/ institutions based on the SOP to be issued by Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India, keeping local requirements in view.
• Schools, which are allowed to open, will have to mandatorily follow the SOP to be issued by Education Departments of States/ UTs prepared as above.

2. 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 15th October, 2020, as under:

• For centrally funded Higher Education Institutions, the Head of the Institution will satisfy herself/ himself that there is a genuine requirement of research scholars (Ph.D) and post-graduate students in science and technology stream for laboratory/experimental works.
• 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.

3) Swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons will be permitted to open with effect from 15 October, 2020, for which the SOP will be issued by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYA&S).

4) Cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes will be permitted to open with upto 50% of their seating capacity, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, with effect from 15 October 2020, for which, SOP will be issued by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

5) Entertainment parks and similar places will be permitted to open with effect from 15th October, 2020, for which the SOP will be issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW).

6) Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions will be permitted to open, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, with effect from 15th October 2020, for which, SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce.

7) 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. Such gatherings beyond the limit of 100 persons may be permitted, outside Containment Zones, by State/ UT Governments only after 15th October 2020, and subject to the following conditions:

• In closed spaces, a maximum of 50% of the hall capacity will be allowed, with a ceiling of 200 persons. Wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitizer will be mandatory.
• In open spaces, keeping the size of the ground/ space in view, and with strict observance of social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks, provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer. State/ UT Governments will issue detailed SOPs, to regulate such gatherings and strictly enforce the same.

8) International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by MHA.  National Directives for COVID-19 Management National Directives for COVID-19 Management, shall continue to be followed throughout the country.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL GUIDELINE OF UNLOCK 5.0