Universities and colleges in Madhya Pradesh will return with 50% attendance on September 15 after being closed for months because of the COVID-9 epidemic, an official said on Saturday.

According to the source, the state has at least 1,400 institutions and 56 universities with over 13.5 lakh students, two lakh of them are freshmen.

“All teachers and non-teaching staffers have been asked to conduct classes with 50 percent students from September 15,” State Higher Education Minister Mohan Yadav said in a release.

It is mandatory for teaching, non-teaching staff, and students to submit certificates of having taken the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, he said.

Apart from this, COVID -19 appropriate behavior must be strictly adhered to on college and university campuses, the minister said. Online classes for students will continue, and officials have been asked to chart out a timetable for online and offline classes, he said.

Libraries, hostels, and mess will reopen in a phased manner in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, Yadav added. Madhya Pradesh saw five fresh COVID-19 cases on Friday, following which the state currently has 130 active infections.