The unprecedented surge in the cases of Omicron across India has brought new concerns for the country. While the vaccination drive for children in the 15-18 year age group started on January 3, several state governments have gone on the back foot with school closures. They have decided to shut down classes in physical mode to curb the spread of infection.
The objective is to ensure the safety of school-going children amid the ongoing threat. Besides schools, state governments have also announced the closure of colleges and other educational institutions. The announcement comes as schools in many states are already having winter vacations, while others are conducting classes online. Here are the guidelines on school closures in different states and UTs.
DELHI
The national capital is among the worst-hit parts of the country, with the Omicron cases increasing from 2-3 per cent to 25-30 per cent in just two weeks. Delhi government has already declared a ‘Yellow Alert’ after the sudden spike. The new guidelines of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) state that schools, colleges, and other educational institutions in the capital will stay closed until further orders. Classes 1 to 5 will have winter vacations for now.
UTTAR PRADESH
The state of Uttar Pradesh is already battling with severe cold waves and the surge in Omicron cases has worsened the situation. Schools in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Hapur have been shut down for 15 days, until January 14, 2022. The state government has declared winter vacations up to class 8 for government schools. However, there aren’t any guidelines for private schools yet.
HARYANA
A sudden and sharp increase in the Omicron cases has led the Haryana government to take tangible control measures. These include the closure of schools and colleges in the state till January 12. The state government has also imposed curbs on markets and shopping malls, necessitating closure after 5 PM.
MAHARASHTRA
Maharashtra has the maximum number of Omicron cases as of now, prompting the state government to go the extra mile with restrictions. Schools in Mumbai for classes 1 to 9 will remain closed till January 31 amid the surge. However, they will continue as usual for classes 10 to 12.
RAJASTHAN
Rajasthan is battling with the virus, with the maximum number of cases in the capital city of Jaipur. Schools for classes 1-8 in the city will remain closed from January 3 to January 9. In other districts of the state, the district collector will have the discretion on the matter after discussing it with the additional chief secretary.
WEST BENGAL
Schools and other educational institutions in West Bengal will stay closed from January 3 onwards due to the sudden increase in the numbers of COVID-19 cases. The government has allowed only administrative activities in schools and institutions, with only 50% of employees at a time.
ODISHA
Schools for classes 1 to 5 were scheduled to reopen after the winter break from January 3, 2022. But the government has extended the holidays owing to the Omicron scare. But physical classes will continue for students from classes 6 to 10.
The situation in India is daunting right now, as the COVID cases in the country may reach their peak within a few weeks. Meanwhile, states have taken measures to address the concerns of parents by closing down schools for now. The good thing is that vaccination for children has begun, so the hope is just around the corner.
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