With schools seeing surge in COVID19 cases in the first week of their reopening, authorities on Sunday ordered closure of three educational institutions in Budgam after their teachers tested positive for coronavirus.
Besides, around three teachers in two government higher secondary schools in Baramulla have tested positive for coronavirus. The surge in positive cases has sent the teachers, students and their parents into a tizzy.
In a fresh order, the district administration Budgam has ordered closure of three educational institutions for three days after their teaching staff members tested positive.
A letter to the heads of these schools by the nodal officer of Covid19 mitigation cell reads: “As a prophylactic (intended to prevent disease) measure you are advised to close the school premises immediately for a period of not less than three days. All the primary and affected contacts of the teachers and students are advised to self-isolate or quarantine themselves.”
It further states that the testing for all the contacts will be undertaken in due course of time.
The three Budgam schools include one government high school and two private educational institutions.
The positive cases are being reported after the government ordered for resumption of physical classes for students in a phased manner.
The offline class work for class 9th to 12th students resumed from March 01 while the classes for 6th to 8th standard will resume from Monday (March 08).
However, in wake of the surge in COVID-19 cases in schools, the directorate of school education Kashmir earlier postponed resumption of offline classes of KG to 5th students to March 15. The classes were earlier scheduled to resume from March 08.
Earlier, a government higher secondary school in Budgam was closed for five days after a teacher tested positive. Besides, a school in Kupwara was also closed after a positive case was reported from the institution.
Last week, staff members from a government and a private school of Srinagar also tested positive.