chandigarh the punjab government has decided to reopen higher education institutes outside the containment zones from november 16 which are shut since march 13 respective departments have been directed by the state home department to frame standard operating procedures sops in consultation with the health departmentall the higher education medical education and research and technical education institutions including all universities and colleges in areas outside containment zones in the state would be allowed to reopenthe classes for final year students of universities and colleges under the medical education and research department would commence from november 9 all these institutions have been directed to strictly follow the sops to be framed by their respective administrative departments in consultation with the department of health and the ministry concerned of the central governmentpunjab higher education secretary rahul bhandari maintained that the department has started framing the sops which are expected to be issued on november 6all the safety measures will be followed as the minimum distance between students and teachers will be as per the standard operating procedure sop issued by the state health department to maintain social distancing there will be a cap on the number of students in one classroom and two students will be allowed to sit on the same bench while other protocols like using sanitizers and wearing masks will be followed strictlyinstitutes will have to ensure proper cleaning and sanitation facilities on the premises arrangements have to be made for cleaning and disinfecting all areas furniture equipment stationery storage places water tanks kitchens canteens washrooms libraries on the campus they will also have to ensure availability of key supplies like infrared digital thermometers disinfectants and soapsearlier the punjab government had allowed higher education institutions to open for research scholars phd and postgraduate students in science and technology streams requiring laboratoriesexperimental works in areas outside containment zones after october 15