Uttarakhand Government Mull Over Making Covid-19 Testing Mandatory in Day Schools; Check Details Here

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Uttarakhand Government has been mulling to take a call on introducing the Covid-19 Testing mandatory in the day schools. As of now, Covid-19 Testing is mandatory only for boarding school students in the state.

The state government has been thinking to introduce the Covid-19 Testing in the day schools as well for the teachers and the students.

The development regarding the Covid-19 Testing was made only after nearly 85 teachers were tested Covid-19 positive in the first week of reopening schools in the state.

Read: Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions Slammed Down After Hike in COVID-19 Cases

It was reported that 80 teachers from four blocks of Pauri Garhwal district were the most to be tested Covid-19 positive. However, the schools where these teachers were tested positive have been closed.

Further, two teachers from Kumaon region's Kaladhungi area were tested positive, while a teacher from Government Inter College, Kanda was also tested Covid-19 positive.

Uttarakhand Education Department, Secretary, R Meenakshi Sundaram said that the boarding schools in the state have already been conducting the Covid-19 tests, but now the day schools need to take the Covid-19 tests compulsorily.

He said that the availability of the testing kits in the hilly areas is limited, but there are nearly 1 lakh students and teachers in class 12 and class 10 in the day schools.

However, the discussion regarding the availability and on making the Covid-19 testing mandatory in the day schools will be held with the secretary disaster management and the secretary health department, He said.

He added that decentralized decisions will be made based on the situations that are emerging in such areas in the upcoming days.

When asked about the shutting of the schools in the state if more cases are reported, he said that as of now, there are no such plans, however, the department will review the situation and make the decisions accordingly.

Schools in the state were reopened for Class 10 and 12 on November 2, 2020, after a long period of 7 months. The decision regarding the reopening of the schools was made during the cabinet meeting on October 14.

The teachers in the schools being tested positive have made the parents concerned about the safety of their children.

The president of the National Association for Parents and Students Rights, Arif Khan stated that Uttarakhand schools shouldn't have reopened so early. If 80 teachers have been tested positive, then how many students would have come in contact with those teachers.

How dangerous that could have been in the affected teacher has been taking classes for more than one class. That is why the state shouldn't reopen the schools until the situation improves, he said.

Also Read: Tripura Schools And Colleges To Reopen In Phased Manner From December 1; Check Details Here

Uttarakhand Government, on October 24, 2020, had issued Covid-19 protocols and SOPs that must be followed in the state schools.

As per the released SOPs, the classrooms must be sanitized well before and after, hand-wash, sanitizers, and first aid kit must be made available at the school campus.

The students and the teachers must mandatorily wear masks, social distancing must be followed and if any teacher or a student is symptomatic, then they shall be sent home.

It was also mentioned in the guidelines that if there are a large number of students, then the classes can be held in two shifts. Also, the students are directed to submit a written consent/permission from their parents/guardians to the school authorities.

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