Manipur allows reopening of schools and colleges

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Oct. 2 (EMN): Close on the heels of issuing Unlock 5.0 guidelines by the central government, Manipur government also issued Unlock 2 guidelines which will be in force till October 31.

According to the latest Unlock 2 guidelines issued by the state authority on Thursday, lockdown shall remain in force in containment zones till October 31 while no lockdown outside the containment zone shall be notified without prior consultation of the state government.

The government has allowed reopening of schools, colleges, educational institutions and coaching institutions. But it informed that separate orders for reopening of the institutions will be issued giving detailed guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Among the new permitted activities, swimming pools are allowed to use for training sportspersons from October 15 subject to adherence of SOP to be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the new guideline said.

Stating that all hotels and restaurants have been allowed to open while cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes will be allowed to open with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity, for which, SOP will be issued by ministry of information and broadcasting, it said, “Entertainment parks and similar places will also be permitted to open, for which the SOP will be issued by ministry of health and family welfare.”

“Business to Business (B2B) exhibitions will be permitted to open, for which the SOP will be issued by the department of Commerce,” it said. Likewise, the government permitted opening of all financial institutes, private banks, insurance companies etc.

On gathering of people, it also notified that social/academic/sports/entertainment/cultural/religious/political functions and other congregations beyond 100 persons will be permitted after October 15 subject to 50 % of the hall capacity in close spaces with a ceiling of 200 persons with mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitiser.

For gathering in open space the number of persons allowed to gather in open spaces will depend on the size of the ground space in view with mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal screening and hand wash or sanitiser. “Organisers of these functions shall be responsible to ensure that the space/area is adequate to ensure social distancing among the participants,”it said. “State government will issue detailed SOPs to regulate such gathering.”

Otherwise, locality based retails shops dealing with essential commodities have been permitted to open in all districts from 7am to 6pm on all days while wholesale shops in Thangal Bazar, Dharamsala, Paona Bazar and Masjid Road are also allowed to open during the same timing on all days except Sunday.

The state authority notified to continue with the roster system for opening of shops which have been grouped into two instead of the earlier three from 8am to 6pm in Thangal Bazar and Paona Bazar except shops in gullies/by-lanes between buildings.