By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 31, 2020: Odisha government on Monday announced guidelines for the phased reopening under Unlock-4 in the State from September 1 to September 30, 2020 and allows major relaxations this month despite a spike in COVID-19 cases.

The guidelines are in line with the restrictions or relaxations of the revised guidelines issued by the union ministry of home affairs (MHA) to re-open more activities in areas outside containment zones. The lockdown in containment zones has been extended up to September 30 to contain further spread of the deadly virus.

Most importantly, there will be no night curfew or weekend shutdown in the State and there will be no lockdown in non-containment zones without the Centre’s approval following the Home Ministry guidelines issued on August 29. However, strict lockdown will be implemented in the containment zones till September 30, 2020.

Religious places, places of worship for public, social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment complexes, theatres, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will continue to remain closed till September 30 in areas outside the Containment Zones throughout the State.

International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by union home ministry. While open-air theatres and similar places will be permitted to open with effect from September 21, 2020, as per MHA directive.

Schools, colleges, universities, other educational/ training/ coaching institutions, anganwadis, etc will remain closed for the purpose of teaching till the end of Puja vacations in the month of October 2020. However, conduct of examinations, evaluation and other administrative activities are permitted.

This apart, School and Mass Education Department or the Higher Education Department 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 from September 21 as per MHA standard operating procedure.

The government has also permitted inter-State and intra-State movement of passenger buses from September 1 and there shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons, private vehicles and goods including those for cross land-border trade under Treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission or e-permit will be required for such movements.