RT-PCR test has been made mandatory for teachers and non-teaching staff who are not fully vaccinated.
Mumbai: Schools in Mumbai have reopened for classes 1 to 7 on Wednesday, after more than 20 months. The schools have reopened amid the increasing threat against the Omicron variant across the country. Schools were shut since March 2020 in Maharashtra as part of restrictions imposed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
An order to reopen the schools in the metropolis was issued by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal. As per the order, schools have been asked to follow all Covid-19 protocols like wearing of masks, sanitation, and social distancing, while RT-PCR test has been made mandatory for teachers and non-teaching staff who are not fully vaccinated yet while pushing for vaccination for all those eligible.
As per reports, over 10 lakh students of classes 1 to 7 are expected to resume offline classes from today. Even though preparations have been in full swing after Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, BMC gave its nod, it is likely that many schools would welcome students only around January.
It is also known that many private aided and unaided schools are likely to resume offline lectures in January as they would soon be shut for Christmas break. Seeing fewer days left for classroom teaching, schools are not too keen to call back students, especially when parents are expressing their discomfort as well.
Mumbai has recently seen a fall in COVID cases by approximately 98%, when compared with the height of second wave. In last 24 hours, the City has reported about 225 new cases and 1 death. Experts suggest that if the trend continues, Mumbai can soon expect lesser cases. However, one cannot ignore the Omicron threat and need of COVID appropriate behaviour.
Schools Reopen in Pune
Schools are also set to resume for physical classes in Pune on Thursday, according to an order issued by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Vikram Kumar on Tuesday.
Primary and middle schools were supposed to reopen in the first week of December in Pune and Mumbai but the decision was postponed due to the emergence of the Omicron variant in the state.
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