New Delhi: Further easing Coronavirus curbs outside containment zones, Unlock 5 guidelines released by the home ministry on Wednesday allowed states/ UTs to take a call on reopening of schools in a graded manner after October 15 while cinemas, theatres and multiplexes can function at 50% seating after the same date.

Students, however, will be given the option of attending online classes and schools may not enforce attendance. A call on opening of higher education institutions is to be taken by the education ministry with no date set out. There are no changes regarding air and train travel. There is a strong reiteration that local lockdowns will not be imposed outside containment zones without consulting the home ministry.

Cinemas, theatres and multiplexes have been permitted to open with up to 50% of their seating capacity in non-containment zones from October 15, while swimming pools can be used from the same date but only those for training of sportspersons.

Other activities allowed from mid-October under the fresh guidelines — effective from October 1 to 31, 2020 — include opening of entertainment parks and “similar places” as well as conduct of business-to-business exhibitions.

Importantly, social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious and political functions can be held after October 15 with a ceiling of 200 persons in closed spaces, subject to a maximum 50% of the hall capacity. In open spaces, crowds may be allowed depending on the size of the ground. In both situations, wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision of thermal scanning and use of hand wash and sanitiser will be mandatory. To ensure that such gatherings do not spread Covid-19, states and UT governments will be required to issue detailed SOPs and strictly enforce them.

The relaxation on political gatherings is set to help parties and candidates to get on with physical campaigning for the upcoming polls in Bihar and bypolls to one Lok Sabha and 56 assembly seats.