JAIPUR: The state government has decided to keep schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions closed till November 16, as per the Unlock-6 guidelines issued by the state home department on Sunday.
Though the guidelines have been issued for November 1-30, the state government will take a decision in respect of opening schools and coaching institutions in a graded manner. The decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school/institution management, based on the assessment of the situation and subject to some conditions.
Online/distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged, according to these conditions.
Guests at marriages should not exceed 100
The other conditions include allowing students, who prefer online classes instead of physically attending schools, to do the same; letting students attend schools/institutions only with the written consent of parents; not enforcing attendance and doing so with parental consent. Also, the state government will issue SOPs regarding the health and safety precautions for reopening schools and institutions. All of them will be expected to mandatorily follow these SOPs.
The guidelines, issued by principal secretary (home), Abhay Kumar said, “The lockdown shall remain in force in the containment zones till November 30.” Swimming pools, cinema halls/theatres/multiplexes, entertainment parks, and similar places will remain closed till November 30.
Also, social/political/sports/entertainment/academic/cultural/religious functions and other large congregations will also not be permitted till November 30.
For marriage-related gatherings, the organiser has to ensure that the maximum number of guests do not exceed more than 100. The maximum number of persons at funerals/last rites shall not be more than 20.
The district collector and district magistrate can grant special permission for functions having a larger number of people subject to certain conditions, including the seating plan. Such applicants will have to follow these rules: In closed spaces, only a maximum of 50% of the hall capacity will be allowed, with a ceiling of 200 persons; in open spaces, keeping in view the size of the ground/ space a special function can be granted permission with a ceiling of 250 persons. Each person will have to maintain a distance of six feet.
“There shall be strict control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of containment zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining the supply of essential goods and services. In the containment zones, there shall be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance and other clinical interventions as required,” it said.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 will be issued by the district authority concerned. District collectors and magistrates shall not impose any local lockdown (district/sub-division/city/village level), outside the containment zones, without prior permission of the government of India. No relaxations of any kind shall be permitted in the containment zones.
Corona warriors to take out rally
Ahead of Diwali, a 15-km rally by corona warriors will be taken out in the city on Monday. It will be from Ramniwas Bagh Circle to Jawahar Circle and back. The health department is apprehensive that Covid-19 cases might spread rapidly post-Diwali if people do not take proper precautions.