With the cases of COVID-19 declining in the city, the Chandigarh Administration on Tuesday decided to allow all institutions of higher learning including University and Colleges to open for the next academic session starting from the month of August 2021.
However, all teaching and non-teaching staff and students must have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination, minimum two weeks ago and must ensure adherence to all Covid appropriate behavior.
The decision was taken during the review meeting presided over by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore here.
The Administration has also decided to allow commercial events like exhibitions, shows but only after prior permission from the SDM concerned from July 21 onwards. There would be a limit of 200 persons or 50 percent of available space and strict adherence to the Covid protocol for holding such events.
Reviewing the situation, Badnore directed the Chandigarh Police to take strict action against the violators of the Covid protocol, particularly for non-wearing of masks at Sukhna Lake and public places.
He said that the decision to allow institutes of higher education will be reviewed again in the coming days.
Earlier, the Administration had allowed schools to open for 9th to 12th classes from July 19.
During the meeting, Dr Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER informed that findings of sero-survey for paediatric population of 6-18 years age group indicates that 67.4 percent children in sectors, 74.3 percent in rural areas and 73.2 percent in colony areas have antibodies.
He also informed that two oxygen plants each of 1000 Litre Per Minute (LPM) have already been set up in PGIMER and testing is being done.
Dr Jasbinder Kaur, Director Principal, GMCH-32 said that sero-survey for adult population has been carried out in the city and the preliminary result shows 68 percent population in rural areas, 83.5 percent in urban areas and 79.8 percent in colony areas have antibodies.
About COVID-19 vaccination status, Dr. Amandeep Kang, Director Health Services, GMSH-16 said so far, 7,09,180 doses of vaccines have been administered in Chandigarh. 77.25 percent of the eligible population has been given the first dose and 20.4 percent have been given the second dose. Currently, about 38,000 doses are available in Govt. Hospitals and 46,700 doses of vaccines are yet to be received from the Government of India during this month, she said.
Dr Kang further informed that the door-to-door survey-cum-vaccination drive in Dadumajra, Dhanas and Kishangarh for encouraging the vaccination of left-out eligible population has already been done and 3,000 people were vaccinated in this drive with the help of NGOs and Municipal Councillors of these areas. Same exercise will continue in other parts of the city. Two CTU buses have also been converted into vaccination buses for the purpose of vaccination, she added.