Unlock 5.0 Guidelines Issued: Check Details on Re-opening Schools and Colleges and Other Activities

The Ministry of Home Affairs has released the latest guidelines for Unlock 5.0, and several activities have been allowed outside containment zones. As far as the re-opening schools, coaching institutes and colleges are concerned, State Governments will be given the flexibility to decide after 15 October. The new guidelines, MHA says, are based on feedback received from States and UTs, and extensive consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.

Unlock 5.0 Guidelines: Here Is a List of the Allowed Activities

• Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions will be permitted to open, for which, the standard operating procedures will be issued by the Department of Commerce.
• Cinemas, theatres, and multiplexes will be permitted to open with up to 50% of their seating capacity.

Unlock 5.0 Guidelines for Schools and Colleges

• State governments can decide on the re-opening of schools and coaching institutes in a graded manner after 15 October 2020.
• The decision should be taken in consultation with the respective school and institution management, based on their assessment of the situation.
• Online classes and distance learning will continue to be preferred.
• If students prefer to take online classes, they must be permitted to do so.
• Written consent of parents will be required for students to attend classes.

• Attendance must not be enforced and must depend entirely on parental consent.

• Higher institutions and colleges may re-open after consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), based on the assessment of the situation.
• Higher Education Institutions only for research scholars and postgraduate students in science and technology stream requiring laboratory or experimental works will be permitted to open from 15 October 2020.