Meghalaya is set to return to normalcy from tomorrow after four months of lockdown and restrictions due to the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
Government offices have been ordered to function with 100 per cent capacity all over the State.
Further, schools and colleges will reopen with certain conditions and adherence to health protocols.
For schools in urban areas, Class 1 to Class 5 will have online classes, Class 6 to Class 8 will have school visits and Class 9 to Class 12 will be fully opened.
For schools in rural areas, Class 1 to Class 5 will have school visits and only Class 6 to Class 12 will be fully opened.
Education minister Lahkmen Rymbui today said “Any decision taken by us is balanced. On one hand so that the students can attend classes while on the other side we also have to think of their health.”
He also added that the decisions of the government will be reviewed from time to time.
He pointed out that the students of the State has lost nearly one and a half years due to the pandemic and many of the parents and teachers are glad that schools are being reopened.
On a question that teachers apart from taking offline classes for those from Classes IX to XII will also have to attend to off line classes for the lower classes, Rymbui said that there is no decision which “fits all”.
Rymbui said that parents, teachers and even students understand that online classes cannot cater to everyone especially those from economically weaker background.
The Education Minister also said that he hoped all the teachers are vaccinated and those who have not will have to bring a Covid negative report every 10 days.
Meanwhile, from tomorrow all tourist spots will be reopened. Only fully vaccinated tourists will be allowed to visit the State.
Tourists who are unvaccinated or vaccinated with a single dose will have to produce a negative RTPCR or TrueNat, CBNAAT report valid only if they have tested within 72 hours prior to their arrival at the entry point.
The tourists will also have to generate an e-invite for entry to Meghalaya through the Meghalaya App of the state tourism department. It is also mandatory that tourists book at least one night stay at either hotels, homestays or guest houses and they must declare their complete itinerary too.
Tourists who are staying as guests of any family or friend in Meghalaya are also asked to declare the full address and contact details of the family or friend concerned.
Local tourists from within the State that are fully vaccinated or vaccinated with a single dose will be allowed to visit any location in Meghalaya for tourism purposes.
The government had recently decided to open public parks like Ward’s Lake, Lady Hydari Park, etc only for vaccinated persons, subject to compliance to protocols. Other privately-owned parks have also been permitted to reopen for vaccinated persons.
Several sports activities have also recently been permitted to reopen subject to compliance with the protocols issued by the Sports Department. The sports activities include archery, shooting, cycling, athletics and running, golf, lawn tennis, badminton, table tennis, snooker, weightlifting, billiards, etc.
Places of worship were also allowed to reopen from August 21. However, the majority of churches have decided to start reopening from September 5.
