State and Union Territories have the flexibility to decide on the reopening of schools and coaching institutions in a graded manner

The government has allowed the opening of cinemas and multiplexes, entertainment parks, and business-to-business exhibitions from October 1under the new COVID-19 Unlock guidelines for activities outside of Containment Zones.

Schools can be opened in a graded manner by states and union territories from October 15 onwards.

International air travel will, however, continue to be restricted except for the operations permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The new guidelines, issued by the ministry today, are based on feedback received from States and Union Territories and extensive consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.

Cinemas, theatres, and multiplexes will be permitted to open with upto 50% of their seating capacity. They will have to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions will also be allowed to open under SOP to be finalized by the Department of Commerce.

Swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons will be permitted to open, for which the standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.

Entertainment parks and similar places will be permitted to open, for which the SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Schools, colleges, education institutions and coaching institutions

State and Union Territory governments have been given the flexibility to decide on the reopening of schools and coaching institutions in a graded manner after October 15.

The decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school or institution management, based on their assessment of the situation, the home ministry said. Any decision would, however, be 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 and attendance cannot be enforced.

Schools, which are allowed to open, will have to mandatorily follow the SOP to be issued by Education Departments of states and UTs.

The Department of Higher Education (DHE), Ministry of Education can take a decision on the timing of the opening of Colleges and Higher Education Institutions in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), based on the assessment of the situation. Online and distance learning shall, however. continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged.

Institutions which need laboratory and experiment work to be carried out will be permitted to open from October 15 for the benefit of research scholars and post-graduate students.

The ministry pointed out that social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, political functions and other congregations have already been permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons outside Containment Zones. Now State and UT Governments have been given the flexibility to permit such gatherings beyond the limit of 100 persons, outside Containment Zones, after October 15.