BHUBANESWAR: The state government has asked schools to strictly follow
Covid protocol after four students from city schools, including one Class XII student of Kendriya Vidyalaya-1, at Unit IX Janpath, tested positive. While the KV student is a day boarder, the three are hostel inmates of a
private school near Patia.
“We have asked all schools, including unaided private schools, to strictly follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the state government to check the second wave of Covid-19,” school and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash said.
In
Odisha students of classes IX to XII are attending physical classes in their respective schools. All district administrations have also been asked to ensure that Covid-19 protocol is followed in schools.
Dash, however, maintained that not a single case of Covid-19 has been reported from any government-run school or hostel. “All government schools are strictly following the SOPs — regular sanitisation, wearing of mask and social distancing. As a result, so far not a single case has been detected from government schools,” he added. The
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday conducted Covid tests on around 100 students and staff of KV-1 and carried out contract tracing of the student. The BMC has also directed all schools in the city to strictly follow Covid-19 protocol and threatened action in case of violations.
“There is nothing to panic. We have been regularly carrying out sanitization of classrooms and campuses and following all safety guidelines. The infected student did not come to school for the last four-five days,” said an official of KV-1.
The spurt in Covid cases has triggered concern among parents and many feel the government should announce closure of schools again. However, the minister said the government is yet to take a decision on the issue.
“Even though the school authorities are claiming that they are following all Covid-19 norms, I am not sure that children are adhering to the norms of social distancing, handwashing and wearing mask. Since positive cases are being detected from educational institutes, it is high time the government should take a call on shutting down the schools,” said Rajlaxmi Panda, a parent.