With cases on decline, Chandigarh relaxes Covid curbs

Educational institutions, gyms and Sukhna Lake to open in Chandigarh from February 1; all students above 15 years will need to be vaccinated at least with the first dose while attending offline classes

With the Covid-19 cases declining in Chandigarh, the UT administration on Thursday declared a host of relaxations, including the opening of educational institutions, gyms, health centres and Sukhna Lake.

All activities, including boating, at Sukhna Lake (above) will be allowed to open from 5am to 10pm. Shops at Sukhna will be open subject to compliance of Covid-appropriate behaviour and proper sanitisation. (Keshav Singh/HT file photo)

With effect from February 1, schools will start functioning physically for Classes 10 to 12. All universities and colleges will also be allowed to open normally. Besides, public libraries will be open at 50% of their capacity.

All students above 15 years will need to be vaccinated at least with the first dose while attending offline classes. All officials and students above 18 years should be fully vaccinated. A detailed order in this regard will be issued separately by the UT education secretary. Physical classes as city schools were suspended on January 11 after Covid cases started burgeoning in the city.

Coaching institutions will be allowed to open at 50% capacity subject to the condition that all students from 15 to 18 years should have received at least a single dose of vaccine and students/staff above 18 years are fully vaccinated.

All markets, including apni mandis, will be allowed to remain open till 10pm.

All activities, including boating, at Sukhna Lake will be allowed to resume from 5am to 10pm. Shops at Sukhna Lake will be open subject to compliance of Covid-appropriate behaviour and proper sanitisation. The administration had closed the lake for public from January 2 onwards, allowing only walkers access for some hours in the morning and evening.

Also, all gyms and health centres will be allowed to operate till 10pm at 50% of their capacity, subject to all staff and users being fully vaccinated. The UT administration had on January 6 decided to close all gyms amid the surge in Covid cases.

The Tricity Gym Association had been demanding that gyms should be allowed to open with 50% capacity like restaurants, cinema halls and malls.

The decisions came after the decline in positivity rate in Chandigarh over the past week. (HT)

Positivity rate sees decline

The decisions were taken in the administration’s Covid review meeting chaired by UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit. The administrator expressed satisfaction over the decline in positivity rate and appreciated the health officials for being proactive in handling the situation.

He also congratulated the administration for administering 100% second dose of vaccination to the city’s adult population. Notably, on January 6, when major restrictions were announced, the positivity rate was 14.4%. It had jumped to 23.24% on January 11, but stood at 15.5% on Thursday.

Strict enforcement of Covid protocol

Purohit directed police officials to ensure strict enforcement of Covid protocols at public places. He advised health officials to keep analysing small trends and surges, and keep taking strict and prompt containment action.