Cafes, Cinemas To Open; Educational Institutions To Remain Shut
Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday issued fresh guidelines for unlock 5.0 allowing cinemas and restaurants to open with 50 percent seat capacity; while educational institutions shall remain closed across the Union Territory till October 31.
Addressing a news conference here, Secretary Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and Member Secretary State Executive Committee, Simrandeep Singh today said that the government has permitted opening of cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes, swimming pools, bars in restaurants, hotels etcetera, entertainment parks and similar places, coaching centres from October 15 with fifty percent capacity.
“Schools, colleges, higher educational institutions including Anganwari centres shall remain closed till October 31 whereas online/ distance mode studies will continue,” Singh, according to an official spokesperson said.
The Secretary Disaster Management, he said, announced that fifty percent teaching non-teaching staff is permitted for online teaching purposes in areas outside containment zones, while students of classes 9th to 12th are permitted to visit school on a voluntary basis for taking guidance in areas outside containment zones.
The official spokesperson further added that Singh also announced permission to the Skill or Entrepreneurship training in National Skill Training Institutes, ITls or other training centers registered with the National Skill Development Mission or JK Skill Mission.
“National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IE) and their training providers will also be permitted, as per the SOP already issued in this regard by the MOHFW, Govt. of India,” Singh, as per official spokesperson said.
“Higher Education Institutions will be permitted only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and PG students in Science and technical streams requiring lab/experimental works from 15th October, 2020. The Head of Higher Education Institutions will satisfy herself/himself that there is a genuine requirement of research scholars (Ph.D.) and PG students in science and technology stream for laboratory/ experimental works,” he added.
He said that the coaching centers shall be permitted to run classes, outside the containment zones only from October 15 up to 50 percent capacity of the centers, strictly as per the SOP issued by Ministry of Education, GOI.
“Shops in Malls as well as in the limits of Municipal Corporations will remain open from 9 am to 9 pm,” Singh said, adding “The Business to Business exhibitions can start from October 15 as per the Union Ministry of Commerce SOP,”
The SEC member also announced that there will be no restrictions on entry of passengers, returnees or travelers coming to Jammu and Kashmir whether by road, rail or air but COVID-19 Antigen Tests are mandatory.
“The travelers will undergo a 14-day home quarantine if they have a valid contactable phone and Aarogya Setu App in their mobile telephones. The protocol for management of COVID positive persons will be followed,” he said.
According to the official spokesperson, the SEC, after taking a detailed review of Covid-19 situation in Jammu and Kashmir, has categorized Green, Red, Orange zones.
According to order, he said all districts of Kashmir province and nine districts of Jammu region have been declared as Orange Zones.
“The Kishtwar district has been designated as Green Zone. However, Lakhanpur Containment Zone in Kathua district and Jawahar Tunnel area on either side will fall in the Red Zone category,” he said.
The Secretary Disaster Management also said that social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other gatherings and congregations have already been permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons.
“The Government ordered that gathering in closed spaces (indoor) will be permitted to a maximum of 50 percent of the hall capacity subject to a ceiling of 200 persons from October 15. In open spaces physical distancing, wearing of masks and use of hand sanitizers are mandatory,” he said, adding “All these activities have been permitted only outside the Containment Zones,”
The government, Singh said, has also raised the number of pilgrims for the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji per day to 7000 from October 15. The decision on the number of pilgrims local/ outside UT to allow would be decided by the CEO shrine board.
“Religious processions and large religious gatherings will remain strictly prohibited,” he said.
Meanwhile, movement of individuals for all non-essential activities will remain prohibited from 10 pm to 5 am while persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children with 10 years of age shall stay at home except for health purposes.
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