Following the decision of the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19 to continue with existing lockdown measures with further relaxations and reopening of more activities from August 19 till September 2, the state chief secretary on Wednesday issued the ‘Unlock 5’ guidelines.
i. Gatherings: Social, political, religious, entertainment, academic, cultural gatherings, and other public gatherings will be allowed up to a maximum of 50% capacity, subject to all the participants being asymptomatic, and being fully vaccinated (taken both the doses) against Covid-19, or 15 days after taking the first dose. If none of the two are fulfilled, the person concerned should carry a Covid-19 negative test report taken through either RT-PCR/TrueNat or CBNAAT with the swab taken for testing not earlier than 15 days.
In addition, all concerned are to adhere to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and maintenance of social distancing.
ii. Sports: Sports activities including competitions will be allowed with up to a maximum of 50% capacity and subject to other conditions as mentioned above while the Home department would be issuing a detailed SOP.
iii. Attendance at govt offices: Government offices will function, with 100% attendance of Group A and B officers on all the working days, and for other employees, the attendance will be 50%. Further, employees and staff of all the offices in the State will be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to attend office. Those who have not taken even a single dose, the employee concerned will be required to produce Covid-19 negative test report every 15 days through either RT-PCR/TrueNat/CBNAAT, by getting tested at any government facility free of charge.
iv. 2-wheeler taxi: Two wheeler taxi and pillion riding will be permitted, subject to the provisions, as applicable, of the SOP issued on August 6 for passenger vehicles on preventive measures to contain the spread of Covid.
v. Outdoor activities: Outdoor parks, entertainment parks, recreation areas, and similar places, will be allowed to open up to a maximum of 50% capacity, and subject to all the persons managing the parks and such facilities, as well as all the visitors, including the children, being asymptomatic, and all those who are 18 years of age and above should be fully vaccinated (taken both the doses), or as stated in second para.
vi. Gyms: Gymnasiums will be allowed up to 50% of the capacity, and the person(s) managing the gymnasium, as well as all the users shall be subject to the same conditions as outlined above for the persons managing the parks and the visitors to the parks, and shall also be subject to all the provisions of the SOP to be issued by the Home department.
Swimming pools and cinemas shall continue to remain closed.
vii. Online classes to continue: The conduct of regular classes for the students of Class X and below in all the schools of the State shall remain suspended, and the schools will continue with the present system of online teaching
Meanwhile, the dates from which the relaxations/ re-opening up of activities as in para (ii), (v) and (vi) will be effective/permitted will be notified in the SOPs concerned to be issued by the Home department.
The order stated that respective District Task Forces (DTFs) may consider imposing stricter measures or rolling back certain relaxations in specified areas in the district, if an exceptional situation arises, and the DTF is satisfied that such measures are necessary under intimation to the government.