Maharashtra School Reopening News Today: Are schools safe to be REOPEND from August 17? See what COVID-19 task force has to say

Maharashtra School Reopening News Today: With decline in the number of COVID-19 cases across the countries, the states are issuing guidelines to relax the lockdown restrictions. The malls , restaurants and other places have been reopened in several states, adhering to the COVID-19 protocol. Schools have also started to reopen in several states. The schools in Maharashtra are set to open from August 17, 2021. However, the COVID-19 task force of the state has advised the government against reopening of schools in the state.

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According to a report by Zee Business news channel, the Maharashtra COVID-19 task force has stated that this is not the right time for reopening of schools in the state. Instead, the schools should remain closed, and the online classes should continue as it is taking place now. The task force has said that children who are below 18 years of age have not yet been vaccinated and so the health risks of the students cannot be totally avoided if the schools are reopened for offline classes.

महाराष्ट्र कोविड टास्क फोर्स ने भेजे सरकार को सुझाव...

कहा- अभी बच्चों को स्कूल मत बुलाओ
वैक्सीन लगी नहीं, जोखिम लेना सही नहीं।#BacktoSchool2021 pic.twitter.com/g2vLYVnN8U

— Zee Business (@ZeeBusiness) August 12, 2021

It has to be noted that Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad had put up a series of tweets from her official Twitter handle for the reopening of the schools in the state. She also posted the SOPs to be maintained in the schools for offline classes.

In one of her tweets, Gaikwad said, "Schools in areas where coronavirus cases are under control can restart physical classes for Std 5-12th in rural areas & 8-12th in urban areas from Aug 17. Safe resumption of schools is being considered to ensure all students have equal access to education amidst the pandemic."

Schools in areas where coronavirus cases are under control can restart physical classes for Std 5-12th in rural areas & 8-12th in urban areas from Aug 17. Safe resumption of schools is being considered to ensure all students have equal access to education amidst the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/iytFWsOJrB

— मैं_भी_Rahul (@VarshaEGaikwad) August 10, 2021

In a subsequent tweet, she further said, "School hours to be limited to 3-4 hours per day. No cultural or sporting events requiring a gathering will be permitted in schools. Schools to provide isolation facilities and to tie up with local health department for any emergency situation."

School hours to be limited to 3-4 hours per day. No cultural or sporting events requiring a gathering will be permitted in schools. Schools to provide isolation facilities and to tie up with local health department for any emergency situation. #education #RTE @INCMumbai

— मैं_भी_Rahul (@VarshaEGaikwad) August 10, 2021

The report from Zee Business news channel stated that the government had stated that though the schools will reopen, the students will not be forced to come to schools. Notably, the task force had advised the schools to be reopened, however, the task force is now suggesting not to reopen schools as in the states where offline classes have resumed, both the teachers and the students are getting infected with COVID-19. As of now, 17 teachers and 24 students have been affected with COVID-19 as per Zee Business channel. Those schools have again been closed for few weeks due to this situation.

The situation has been somewhat the same in Chhattisgarh, within a week of reopening of the schools, 45 students were affected with COVID-19 infection. In addition to that, low vaccination of the teachers and the non-teaching staff is also a major cause of concern. As per Punjab government education department data, less than 32 per cent of the government school teachers have received both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine. In Karnataka, 19 per cent of the government school teachers are fully vaccinated as per Zee Business news channel.

As per the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), as on August 13, 2021, India reports 40,120 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours.