Jharkhand: Classes will resume for 6 to 8 students, colleges will reopen

State Health Minister Banna Gupta has said that all colleges will reopen and they will function as before.

The state government has allowed entry of visitors to religious places, including the famous Baidyanath Dham temple in Deoghar, and allowed setting up of Durga Puja pandals subject to compliance with the COVID-19 protocol.

According to the decision taken in the meeting of Jharkhand State Disaster Management Authority under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, permission was given to open bars and restaurants till 11 pm.

“The entry of devotees has been allowed at all religious places. It will be mandatory for the concerned persons (priest, panda, imam, pastor etc.) to take at least one dose of vaccination at religious places,” Soren said. A tweet after the meeting. He said that maximum 100 people would be able to enter in an hour from the e-pass religious places identified by the District Magistrate like Baba Dham Temple in Deoghar.

People have been allowed to assemble at religious places, provided the gathering does not exceed 50 per cent of the place’s capacity. Entry of those below 18 years of age will be restricted.

COVID protocols like social distancing and wearing of masks have been made mandatory.

“Permission has been given for construction of Durga Puja pandals, but there will be a ban on the entry of devotees. There will be a ban on gatherings of more than 50 percent capacity or more than 25 persons (whichever is less).” Soren tweeted another I said, “At a time in the pandal. There will be a ban on holding the fair and the maximum height of the idol will be 5 feet, while there will be no toran gate or reception gate.” A statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat said that the pandals will not be allowed to be based on any theme and Will be covered from three sides Also ‘Bhog’ (offering) will not be distributed.

Apart from this, the worship organizing committees will not give invitation cards and the use of bright lights in the pandal will be prohibited.

All cultural programs like Garba and Dandiya performances will remain banned, the statement said. Neither food stalls nor immersion processions will be held after the puja.

“The immersion will be done only at the place identified by the district administration,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand on Monday reported six fresh COVID-19 infections and zero deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department.

Ranchi added five new cases, followed by one case in East Singhbhum.

After this, the total number of cases rose to around 3.5 lakh (3,48,079) including 117 active cases.

The death toll stood at 5,133 with a mortality rate of 1.47 per cent.

Moreover, the total recoveries reached 3,42,829, with 16 recoveries recorded in the last 24 hours. The recovery rate is 98.49 percent.