Night curfew reduced by two hours
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 19: The UT administration today doubled the cap on gatherings from 25 to 50 subject to certain conditions and also cut night curfew timing in some districts by two hours.
The decisions were part of the latest COVID containment guidelines issued today by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta in his capacity as the Chairperson of the State Executive Committee (SEC).
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While maximum number of people permitted to attend indoor/outdoor gatherings will remain strictly restricted to 25, the banquet halls in the districts where COVID positivity rate is below 0.2 and weekly case load is less than 250, will be permitted to enhance limit of guests to 50 for vaccinated persons or those with verifiable RT-PCR or RAT report not older than 72 hours.
The District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police will ensure compliance of the order, the SEC said.
While night curfew will remain in force in all districts from 8 pm to 7 am, the districts with positivity rate below 0.2 and weekly case load less than 250 will observe curfew restrictions from 10 pm to 6 am, the SEC order read.
Other COVID containment guidelines/relaxations will remain unchanged.
“The schools, except for relaxations as provided for students of 12th and 10th classes, will continue to remain closed for on-site/in-person teaching,” the order said.
“Classes for 12th standard shall be permitted in the educational institutions with limited in-person teaching not exceeding 50 percent on a given day for vaccinated students and staff. However, the school management will have to obtain consent from the parents of all students who are willing to attend the classes,” the SEC guidelines reiterated.
Entry to the educational institutions will be subject to proper screening regarding vaccination. Screening will be done at the school gate itself.
“If students, teachers and other staff members show symptoms like cough, cold and fever, they will not be allowed to enter the school. Head of the institute must ensure that guidelines related to social distancing and COVID protocols are strictly followed,” the SEC order reiterated.
As far as Class 10th is concerned, limited in-person teaching of students, not exceeding 50 percent on any given day can be permitted by the concerned Deputy Commissioner after ensuring compliance with COVID Appropriate Behaviour by the school management.
However, the classes will be run after due screening through 100 percent Rapid Antigen Test or RT-PCR which will also be subject to consent of parents and students.
“Limited in person teaching of vaccinated students exceeding 50% on any given day shall be permitted in Polytechnics and ITIs subject to consent of parents and students and all measures as per COVID protocols,” the order read.
The SEC has also reiterated reopening of coaching centres for Civil Services/Engineering/NEET with limited in-person teaching but only for fully vaccinated staff and students.
All other coaching centres will continue to remain closed for onsite/in-person teaching, as per the order.
The administration reiterated that higher educational institutions shall be permitted to commence limited in-person teaching subject to 100 percent vaccination of staff and students and specific permission of concerned Deputy Commissioners.
“Such institutions can organize special vaccination camps in consultation with the district administration. Head of these institutions must ensure that the guidelines related to social distancing and COVID protocols are adhered to,” the order read.
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