Guwahati: With the fourth phase of the lockdown coming to an end on September 30, all eyes are now on the Central Government and its set of relaxations for the upcoming phase of the 'Unlock' (or Unlock 5.).
After the partial reopening of schools in the month of September, several other key sectors -- such as cinemas and tourism -- are awaiting from nods from the Centre so that they can resume activities. Notably, October marks the beginning of the festive season in the Indian subcontinent.
Cinema halls, swimming pools and entertainment parks have still not been opened to the public. It is expected that this time around, the Centre will allow cinema halls to operate in Unlock 5.0 with safety measures. The Multiplex Association of India has also requested the government to allow cinema halls to open. Open-air theatres have started functioning from September 21.
In Assam, life has slowly started trickling back onto the streets after a series of stringent lockdowns meant to keep the COVID-19 virus at bay. Despite the higher incidence of cases, and increased mortality rate, the downturn in the economy has forced the people outside their houses yet again. With several key sectors already having opened, industry stakeholders are anxiously waiting for these key sectors to reopen as well.
COVID-19 and Schools:
Although the schools have been reopened for the higher classes, attendance has continued to remain low in the cities, where the incidence of COVID-19 cases is higher. The schools were reopened for classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 with many restrictions in place.
Students' attendance in schools in Guwahati continues to be low even a week after their reopening. Schools in rural areas have, however, registered high attendance due to the COVID being a non-factor in most of those areas.
While schools such as TC Girls' HS and MP School, Sonaram Higher Secondary School, and Gopal Boro Government HS School in the city drew a blank for a day or two in the last week, attendance in other schools was in between 15 to 20.
Further decisions in this regard will be taken at a review meeting in the first week of October. However, much will depend on the Centre's Unlock 5'0 directives and what relaxations are given for next month.
Apart from Assam, other Northeastern states too have begun taking steps to resume classes in the schools.
While Meghalaya is allowing students from class 9-12 to visit for "guidance", Tripura is planning to reopen schools for the higher secondary students from October 12 onwards.
It is not clear if the Centre will make any modifications to the rules that are in place and allow the lower classes to visit schools. At this point, it seems unlikely, as students are already starting to get used to the e-learning method that became a necessity during the lockdown.
COVID-19 and Assam Tourism:
At the 'Tourism Conclave 2020' that was held in Guwahati last Saturday, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took a resolve to revive the tourism sector, which has suffered a severe setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking during the occasion, that was attended by several key figures related to the Assam tourism industry, Sonowal said that although the people around the world are suffering due to the COVID, efforts have to be made to revive the ailing tourism industry.
Sonowal has urged the stakeholders to come up with suggestions on how to revive the industry that has taken a massive downturn due to the COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the Sikkim government has decided to allow hotels, home-stays and other tourism-related services to resume operations from October 10.
The restrictions on tourism are likely to be eased up as the sector has suffered greatly. The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and the Kamakhya temple -- two of the tourism hotspots in the state -- are expected to reopen to tourists in the first half of October.