Only Wings, Classrooms Of Schools Where COVID-19 Cases Found Should Be Closed, Says Delhi Govt
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said a specific wing in schools or classrooms where a COVID-19 case has been detected should be closed temporarily and clarified that the entire school should only be closed in specific cases.
The Directorate of Education (DoE) also said that students and staff must wear masks and maintain social distancing to the extent possible.
Fresh advisory by Delhi govt
The advisory, dated April 13, came amid reports of a few students testing positive for COVID-19 across the national capital and NCR.
"If any COVID case is noticed or reported to the school authority the same must be intimated to the Directorate of Education immediately and the concerned wing of the school or the entire premises, as the case may be, must be closed down for time being," the advisory said.
A meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has been called on April 20 to review the situation in the national capital.
"We haven't asked them to close schools. Our guidelines say that only a specific wing or classroom where someone was found COVID positive should be temporarily closed. Schools can take a decision to close the entire premises in specific cases where an infected child or staff has been through multiple areas of the school¡we have decentralised it," Sisodia said in response to a question during a press conference.
Measures listed in the advisory??
Among other measures listed in the advisory include wearing of masks by students, teachers and other staff of schools, maintenance of social distancing to the possible extent.
It also advised regular washing of hands and use of sanitisers and creating awareness about the prevention of Covid among students, teachers and other supporting staff and parents visiting the school.
Noting a "slight" rise in COVID-19 cases, Sisodia said earlier in the day that he has directed the education department to issue guidelines on Friday in this regard.
However, both Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Sisodia maintained the government is closely monitoring the situation, and asked people not to panic as there is no rise in hospitalisation.
"Covid cases have slightly increased but there is no rise in hospitalisation, so we need not worry. There is no need to panic but (we have to) stay alert. We have to learn to live with Covid. We are constantly monitoring the situation," Sisodia told reporters.
He also said he had got reports from a few schools in the past few days where parents have informed about their child testing positive.
Cases in Delhi
Delhi reported 325 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, while the positivity rate stood at 2.39 per cent, according to data shared by the city¡¯s health department. Reports of infections from schools have sparked concerns, weeks after they opened for completely offline classes following a two-year gap due to the pandemic.?
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