COVID-19: Jharkhand shuts schools, colleges till January 15; announces new curbs

RANCHI: Amid a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, the Jharkhand government on Monday decided to re-impose pandemic-related restrictions, shutting down all educational institutions and tourist places till January 15 and capping employee attendance at 50 per cent in offices. The announcement was made shortly after senior officials held a meeting here, which was chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

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"Parks, swimming pools, gyms, zoos, tourist places, sports stadiums, schools, colleges, coaching institutes will remain closed till January 15, 2022, but these institutions will have administrative work with 50% capacity. By January 15, 2022, cinema halls, restaurants, bars and shopping malls will open with 50% capacity," Office of Chief Minister Hemant Soren tweeted.

पार्क, स्विमिंग पूल, जिम, चिड़ियाघर, पर्यटन स्थल, खेल स्टेडियम, स्कूल, कॉलेज, कोचिंग इंस्टीट्यूट 15 जनवरी 2022 तक बंद रहेंगे परंतु इन संस्थानों में 50% क्षमता के साथ प्रशासनिक कार्य होंगे। 15 जनवरी 2022 तक सिनेमाहॉल, रेस्टोरेंट, बार एवं शॉपिंग मॉल 50% क्षमता के साथ खुलेंगे।

— Office of Chief Minister, Jharkhand (@JharkhandCMO) January 3, 2022

A statement issued by the government said, "The chief minister has directed all districts to be on alert, given the sudden spurt rise in COVID-19 cases...Government and private offices will be allowed to operate with 50 per cent workforce. Biometric attendance is being banned for the time being." Schools, colleges and coaching institutes will remain closed over the next 12 days. "Administrative work can, however, continue at these educational institutes with 50 per cent workforce," the statement said.

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All tourist sites in the state, including zoos, have been shut down. Besides, swimming pools, gyms and stadiums will also remain closed. "Cinema halls, restaurants, bars and shopping malls are now allowed to operate at half their capacities," the government statement said. Barring medicine stores, restaurants and bars, which have been granted permission to remain open as per usual schedule, shops have been told to down shutters at 8 pm. Outdoor programmes have been allowed with a maximum of 100 people in attendance.

Similarly, permission has been granted for indoor events with not more than 100 people or 50 per cent occupancy of the venue, whichever is lower. All restrictions will be in place till January 15, after which the situation will be reviewed, officials said. According to the statement, "Soren has asked officials to augment health infrastructure and ensure beds, including the ones equipped with oxygen, are readily available." Jharkhand on Sunday reported 1,057 fresh COVID-19 cases, 413 of them in Ranchi.

(With PTI inputs)