From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 31: Even as the COVID-19 tally in Karnataka is crossing the 3 lac mark with almost 9,000 deaths and the situation across the country exceeded 36 lac and nearly 70,000 deaths, the Karnataka government on the basis of Government of India’s guidelines for Phase 4 of Unlock has issued fresh guidelines effective from September 1 with Namma Metro commencing from September 7 in a phased manner.

Under the latest set of guidelines issued by the B S Yediyurappa regime on Monday, which will come into effect from September 1 and will be in force till the end of the month, congregations of social, political, religious, cultural, entertainment and sports with a ceiling of 100 people will be allowed from September 21.

Districts may permit up to 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called to the schools at a time for online teaching/tele-counselling and related work, in areas outside the containment zones only, with effect from September 21 for which, standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and primary and secondary education department.

Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the containment zones only, on a voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers. This will be subject to the written consent of their parents/ guardians and will be permitted with effect from  September 21 for which, SOP will be issued by MoHFW and primary and secondary education department, Government of Karnataka.

Skill or entrepreneurship training will be permitted in national skill training institutes, industrial training institutes (ITIs), short term training centres registered with national skill development corporation or state skill development missions or other ministries of Government of India or state governments.

However, limited gatherings can be held with the mandatory wearing of face masks, maintaining social distance, provision for thermal scanning, hand wash and use of sanitizer.

Research scholars and students of technical and professional institutions that require laboratory work will be allowed to visit the premises, according to guidelines issued by chief secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar, who is also the chairman of the executive committee of the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority.

From September 21, students of Class 9-12 may be allowed to visit their schools in areas outside the containment zones, on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers, subject to the written consent of their parents and guardians, guidelines said.

The number of people allowed at weddings would be increased from 50 to 100 from September 21. Similarly, for funerals, the number would be increased from 20 to 100.

Cinema halls, swimming pools, and entertainment parks would continue to remain closed in September in the state. However, open theatres can be opened from September 21.

International air travel would continue to remain suspended except those allowed as special flights.

The new guidelines clearly stated that outside the containment zones, BBMP, urban local bodies, and other bodies will not be allowed to impose localized lockdowns without prior consultation with state and central governments. There will be no restrictions for the movement of people and goods within the state and inter-states.

People aged above 65 years, pregnant women, children aged below 10 years and other people having multiple health problems are advised to stay at home

The excise minister H Nagesh has already announced that pubs, clubs and restaurants will be allowed to function subject to 50% of their respective seating capacity and adherence to social distancing norms, including wearing face masks from September 1. They will also be allowed to serve liquor and food.

The new set of guidelines authorize the districts to allow up to 50 per cent of the teaching and non-teaching staff to report to schools for online teaching and counselling from September 21, while students studying in Classes 9 to 12 can visit their schools in areas outside containment zones to seek guidance from their teachers from September 21 after obtaining written consent from their parents or guardians.

But higher education institutes for research scholars and post-graduate students pursuing technical and professional programmes which require work in laboratories will be permitted by the department of higher education in consultation with the authorities after assessing the situation.

Sports, political, academic, cultural and religious functions up to 100 persons will also be permitted from September 21 with all members compulsorily wearing masks and adhering to social distancing norms.

Wedding ceremonies will be allowed to have 50 guests up to September 20 and subsequently, the maximum guests will be limited to 100.

Funeral gatherings will be allowed to have 20 people in attendance up to September 20 after which the number of people will be limited to 100.

All open-air theatres will be optional from September 21.

There will be no restrictions on intra-state and inter-state movement of people. But travel by passenger trains, domestic flights, Vande Bharat, Air Transport Bubble Flights and sign-on and sign-off for sea travel will be regulated as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) laid down by the respective departments

Educational institutions (schools, colleges, coaching institutions) will continue to remain closed in containment zones. Also, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres and similar places will remain closed.