COVID-19 resurgence: Fresh guidelines issued for schools in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: In view of spike in numbers of COVID-19 cases in the country, Odisha Government issued fresh guidelines for schools as part of precautionary measures against possible resurgence of deadly virus in the State.

In a letter to all the District Education Officers, School & Mass Education Additional Secretary Pratap Kumar Mishra instructed for implementation of COVID-19 safety guidelines/protocols maintaining adequate and strict sanitation measures in schools, higher secondary schools and other educational institutions under their administrative control.

As per the guidelines, the teachers and concerned authorities shall ensure strict enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols such as mandatory wearing of mask, maintaining physical distance and provision of thermal screening, hand wash or use of sanitizer by the students, teachers, staff and others in schools.

He instructed not to allow anything other than curricular activities on premises of educational institutions.

The persons violating the COVID-19 guidelines may be penalised under the relevant provisions of law, the order stated.

The instruction from the department to DEOs came after the Special Relief Commissioner directed all the district collectors, and municipal corporation commissioners and SPs for implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols to avoid any chance of resurgence of Coronavirus in Odisha.

It is pertinent to mention here that 240 new strains of COVID have been found in India. The new variant in Maharashtra is thought to be highly transmissible and dangerous. Recently, five states — Maharashtra, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Punjab – have registered spike in fresh cases.