Unlock 5: Cinema Halls, Swimming Pools, Schools Set To Reopen From Today In These States; Check Details

Unlock 5: Several cities across India are set to resume schools, cinema halls, swimming pools, multiplexes, entertainment parks with strict COVID-19 norms from Thursday, October 15. Check details here

**EDS: RPT (CORRECTS TYPO)** New Delhi: A worker wearing PPE kit sanitises a cinema hall, as multiplexes prepare to re-open from Oct. 15 after nearly seven months of closure due to coronavirus lockdown, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)

Unlock 5: As per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on October 3 for for Unlock 5, the country is set to reopen several more activities for the public in the areas outside the containment zones from Thursday (October 15). Several cities across India are set to resume schools, cinema halls, swimming pools, multiplexes, entertainment parks with strict COVID-19 norms -- all outside containment zones. Schools, Colleges As per the new guidelines issued by the Centre, State/ UT Governments have been given the flexibility to take a decision for re-opening of schools and coaching institutions. While many states including Delhi and Maharashtra are still concerned about the reopening of schools as it can lead to an immediate acceleration in Coronavirus cases, states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have decided to reopen schools. As per the announcement, schools in Punjab will reopen from October 15 while schools in Up will resume from October 19. Schools for classes X and XII will reopen in Uttarakhand from November 1. It may be noted that the MHA in its fresh set of guidelines had mentioned that Higher Education Institutions only for research scholars (Ph.D) and post-graduate students in science and technology stream requiring laboratory/ experimental works will be permitted to open from 15th October, 2020. Cinema Halls, Theatres & Multiplexes As per the Centre's guidelines, cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes will be permitted to run with up to 50% of their seating capacity from October 15. The owners have been instructed to accept only the digital payment and make the show timings staggered. Visitors have been requested to use only packaged food and beverages. States including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana are set to reopen cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes from Thursday. The Chhattisgarh government is yet to call on reopening of cinema halls and multiplexes in the state. Metro Trains After being shut for over five months due to the Coronavirus outbreak, Delhi Metro resumed services in a limited capacity in September. Now, as part of the ongoing unlocking process, even the Maharashtra government has allowed to run Metro trains in a graded manner in the state from October 15. Swimming Pools The Home Ministry in its guidelines for Unlock Phase 5 permitted swimming pools to reopen with conditions. As per the SOPs released by the sports ministry, a maximum of only 20 swimmers can train during a session in an Olympic-sized pool. Before entering the pool, all the swimmers have been directed to submit 'obligatory self-declaration'. Moreover, it is compulsory for the residential trainees to submit Covid-19 negative report in order to use swimming pool. Besides these activities, entertainment parks and Business to Business (B2B) exhibitions have also peen permitted to resume from October 15, following all the COVID-19 preventive measures and guidelines.