The government on Wednesday said states may decide on reopening schools and colleges after October 15, announcing its fifth phase of restarting activities that halted when the country went into a lockdown on March 25 to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
"Students may attend schools with the written consent of parents. Attendance must not be enforced, and must depend entirely on parental consent,” said home ministry guidelines popularly called Unlock 5.
Containment zones will continue under strict lockdowns till October 31 but states can't impose lockdowns outside them. The home ministry also said cinema halls, multiplexes, exhibition