India Unlock 5.0: Govt allows selective reopening of schools, colleges and multiplexes from Oct 15

Last updated on February 17th, 2023 at 12:06 pm

On Wednesday, Indian government introduced new guidelines called Unlock 5.0 to selectively reopen schools, colleges. multiplexes, theme parks, and swimming pools depending on the infection rate in a state. The Ministry of Home Affairs specified that the new guidelines of limited relaxations would be applicable from Oct. 15 and only in non- containment zones.

Ministry said that as per the new guidelines, multiplexes would be allowed to function only with 50% of their seating capacity. Besides, government also gave go ahead to reopening of business-to-business exhibitions subject to standard operating procedures and swimming pools for the training of sportspersons. Recent relaxations also included allowing reopening of entertainment parks and other similar places.

Despite centre giving go ahead for opening multiple places, it left the final decision in the hands of states and union territories to decide for themselves.  It added that detailed guidelines would be issued by respective ministries.

With regard to the reopening of educational institutions, the central government again left the decision to state administration. It also added that even if states or UTs allowed reopening of schools, colleges and educational institutes after Oct. 15, attendance would not be made mandatory and students would be permitted only with written consent of parents or guardians. Also, it assured that students would have the option of online classes.

With regard to religious and social gatherings, the centre gave flexibility to state governments to allow these institutions to have congregations of no more than100 persons outside containment zones.

Besides, the government also shared the results of India’s second serological survey, conducted across the country between Aug. 17 and Sept. 22. The results showed that 1 in 15 people in the country had come in contact with the coronavirus. The country’s infections rate rose from 0.73% to staggering 6.6% in the first survey done in May, reported Balram Bhargava, director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. The highest rates were witnessed in densely packed urban slum areas

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