The Jharkhand government on Tuesday decided to close all government and private schools, besides mandating that all shops, restaurants, clubs and bars would have to down their shutters by 8pm in the wake of the rising cases of Covid-19 in the state, .

However, students appearing for their board exams will be allowed to visit their respective examination centres and appear for the exams as per the schedule set by the various boards. Other students will attend classes online and through digital mediums,a notification released by the Home Prison and Disaster Management Department stated.

Chairing a meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Chief Minister Hemant Soren pondered upon measures that could slow down the spread of the virus in the state. During the meeting, the authority decided to close gyms, swimming pools and amusement parks, which were reopened earlier this year after staying closed for almost a year during the first wave of Covid-19 in the state.

Jharkhand has also prohibited all social gatherings other than marriages and funerals. The government notification stated, “All indoor and outdoor congregations are prohibited in the state with the exception of marriage functions with the upper limit of 200 people and last rites with the upper limit of 50 people.”

The government imposed a ban on all kinds of processions, fairs and exhibitions until further notice. All sports events shall remain prohibited until further notice, the notification stated. But sportspersons would still be allowed to train in the various facilities including gyms and swimming pools.

Bars and restaurants will be allowed to operate only at 50 per cent capacity till 8pm. While dine-out facilities will not be allowed after 8pm, restaurants can deliver food at home through delivery partners like Swiggy and Zomato, a source who attended the SDMA meeting said.

As per Tuesday's notification, the number of persons gathering at religious places shall not exceed 50 per cent of the accommodation capacity. Besides, people will not be allowed to enter government offices, airports, railway stations, bus stands and places of worship without a facemask.

The Covid-19 trajectory in the state has witnessed an upward trend since mid-March with the active caseload shooting up from hardly 500 to over 6,000 in a fortnight. Covid casualties have also been on the rise lately. The state has reported more than two dozen Covid deaths in the past 48 hours, while the growth rate of the infection in the state has surpassed the national average for the first time.