Shillong: Schools, colleges and the tourism sector are all set to re-open in Meghalaya from September 1, even as the state is witnessing a decline of new COVID-19 infection in State.
“All schools, private and public are permitted to re-open from September 1 in urban as well as rural areas, whereas in the urban areas, online classes would continue for classes 1 to 5, school visits for classes 6 to 8 and on-campus classes for students of classes 9 to 12,” a notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary in-charge Education, Donald Philips Wahlang, stated.
In the rural areas, school visits would be allowed for classes 1 to 5 and on-campus open classes for students of classes 6 to 12. All colleges in the urban and rural areas will re-open in keeping with safety protocols.
In the case of students attending schools and colleges, the consent of parents is paramount, the official notification underscored, adding that parents will have the final say on the physical presence of their ward’s and attendance norms shall be relaxed, the notification read.
“Teaching hours will be limited to three to four hours per day and no cultural gathering or sports events will be permitted. Colleges will have to provide isolation facilities and tie-up with local health departments for any emergency situation,” the notification underscored.
Deputy Commissioners of respective districts have been empowered to assess the risk locally and decide on reopening of colleges, in which regard, Task Force Committees headed by the Deputy Commissioners to monitor the resumption and safe operations of colleges have been constituted.
“For the safety of the staff and students, vaccination is encouraged for teachers/staff.
Non-vaccinated teachers/staff shall have to undergo mandatory RTPCR test every 10 days and submit the test certificate to the college head,” the notification said.
Announcing the re-opening of the tourism sector for visitors from outside the State from September 1, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had said, “Non-local tourists who have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be permitted entry.”
Tourists from outside who have received a single vaccine dose will have to produce RTPCR, TRUNAAT, CBNAAT negative results, which would be valid if they have been tested 72 hours prior to their arrival at the entry point.
Tourists will also have to generate e-invite for entry to Meghalaya through theApp of the Meghalaya tourism department. It is also mandatory that the tourists who come in the book at least one night’s stay in either hotel, home-stay or guesthouses and a declaration of the complete itinerary should be made.
Local tourists from within the state will be allowed to visit any location for tourism-related purposes if fully vaccinated or have taken a single dose, but those who are not vaccinated will have to produce negative RTPCR, TRUNAAT or CBNAAT report before checking into any hotel or visit any tourist spot.
