The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday issued fresh guidelines for opening up of more activities in areas outside the containment zones and has also allowed running of Metro rail from September 7 in a graded manner.

Schools, colleges, and other educational institutions will remain closed up to September 30.

Social, political, religious functions to be permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons with effect from September 21.

4 States,UTs may permit upto 50 per cent of teaching,non-teaching staff to be called to schools for online teaching, tele-counselling related work. Students of classes 9 to 12 may be allowed to visit schools outside Containment Zones with parents’ written consent.

Cinema halls, swimming pools and theatres, excluding open air theatres, to remain shut till Sept 30.

International air travel, except as permitted by MHA, to remain suspended.

The Ministry has stated that lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in Containment Zones till September 30.

State govrenments shall not impose any local lockdown outside the containment zones without prior consultation with central government, it said in its press release.