Omicron COVID-19, Maharashtra School News: Maharashtra schools , which reopened earlier this month after a long gap due to the second wave of Covid, may be closed again as the number of Omicron cases has risen in the state.
Maharashtra’s Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad today said the state government is monitoring the situation and it may order a shutdown of schools if the cases continue to rise.
“If Omicron cases continue to rise, we may take a call to shut the schools again. We are monitoring the situation,” Ms Gaikwad told news agency ANI .
Maharashtra has 54 Omicron COVID-19 cases and is only behind the National Capital Delhi (57). Overall, India has reported 213 cases of the first-spreading strain.
Maharashtra schools for higher classes – classes 5 to 12 in rural and classes 8 to 12 in urban and in urban areas – reopened in October and for lower classes, schools in the state resumed physical teaching-learning activities on December 1. In Mumbai, schools reopened on December 15.
School reopening in Pune was also postponed till December 15 amid fears of the new Covid strain.
The Karnataka Government on December 3 said that all events in educational institutes will be postponed till January 15. "Students will not be allowed to attend offline classes in schools unless their parents are fully vaccinated," a government statement said.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh on December 6 said the government will stop exams and schools if the situation arises.
Amid signs of rise in Omicron cases, the Centre has asked the states to activate "war rooms" and bring back restrictions, including night curfews and regulation in gatherings to contain the spread.
However, no recommendation regarding closing schools has been made yet.
Maharashtra Schools are likely to be closed again. Answering to the raising concerns over Omicron cases in Maharashtra, state Education Minister for School, Varsha Gaikwad has said that it is a possibility. Speaking to reporters, Gaikwad shared that the Government might take a call of shutting the schools again if the cases continue to rise.
Of the total case load of 213 Omicron cases in the country, Maharashtra has reported 54, second only to the national capital, Delhi which has 57. Responding to the same, Gaikwad told ANI, “If Omicron cases continue to rise, we may take a call to shut the schools again. We are monitoring the situation.
The worrying rise of Omicron cases, both in India and countries abroad has sent the governments back to the war room. With the grim prediction of third wave hitting a peak of 14 lakh cases, should the variant gain pace, has raised alarm bells everywhere. Related | India's Omicron tally at 213; Maharashtra, Delhi worst hit - Statewise status of new COVID variant
The news, however, is worrying as the schools have only recently reopened in the state. For Mumbai, it was from December 16 that the primary class students were allowed. For many parts of Maharashtra, it has been the same. However, with the students still unvaccinated, the first thing to go under lockdown would again be the schools.
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