Delhi issues new Covid advisory for private schools

The Delhi government on Thursday issued an advisory to all private schools in the national capital in wake of rising Covid-19 cases. The advisory issued by the government’s Directorate of Education (DoE) said that if any infection is noticed or reported to the school authority, the same must be intimated to the directorate and the wing or school concerned as a whole must be closed for the time being. “It has come to the knowledge of the department through print media and other sources that Covid infection is again spreading in NCR and the positivity rate has increased in the past few days,” the DoE advisory said. The Directorate of Education added that private schools in Delhi are advised to take all possible precautionary measures to prevent any such spreading of Covid-19. According to the directorate, the following measures are to be followed: 1. Wearing of masks by students, teachers and other staff of schools; 2. Maintenance of social distancing to the possible extent; 3. Regular washing of hands and use of sanitisers; 4. Creating awareness about the prevention of Covid among students, teachers and other supporting staff and parents visiting the school etc.

Delhi on Wednesday saw a massive jump in its daily Covid-19 tally after 299 cases were reported, pushing the tally to over 18.66 lakh, according to the health department’s bulletin. Wednesday’s case count was a 48% jump over the 202 cases seen on Tuesday. However, no fresh fatalities were reported on Wednesday and the toll remains unchanged at 26,158. The active cases in Delhi are at 814 and the recoveries are nearing 18.4 lakh. The Delhi government has said that it is watching the pandemic situation and there is no reason to panic.

The education department’s advisory comes hours after a teacher and a student of a private school in South Delhi were found Covid-19 positive, following which other students who were in the same class were sent home on Wednesday. Meanwhile, all schools in Delhi are closed for the next four days in view of Baisakhi, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. As per sources, the condition of Covid-19 positive student and the teacher is stable. Schools for Classes 9-12 reopened in hybrid mode on 7 February while that of the nursery to standard 8 reopened on 14 February in the national capital. However, the schools began to function fully offline from 1 April.