Centre issues fresh guidelines for school reopening as Covid-19 cases decline; check details

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Amid a drop in the number of Covid-19 in several states in the country, the Centre on Thursday announced a fresh set of health and safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the reopening of schools.

According to revised guidelines, the states can decide whether schools are required to take the consent of students' parents for attending physical classes, while group activities would have to be done following SOPs.

The schools should be asked to take necessary precautions for children with co-morbidities. School drivers and conductors residing in containment zones should not be allowed to board the vehicles, the government further said.

On reopening of schools, the health ministry on Thursday said schools have fully opened in 11 states, partially for higher classes in 16 states, and are closed in nine states.

The government noted that 95 per cent teaching and non-teaching staff in schools are vaccinated and some states have achieved 100 per cent vaccination coverage.

IT further said 34 states and union territories, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, are recording a decline in Covid-19 cases and positivity rate, while Kerala and Mizoram are still recording an increase in cases and positivity.

It also said that the pandemic situation has improved and there is contraction in spread of the Covid infection. In 268 districts, the positivity rate is below five per cent, the government said.

It said that a decline in COVID-19 case fatality rate has been noted with an increase in the administration of vaccine dose.

(With inputs from PTI)