Gujarat Schools For Classes 1 To 9 To Shut Down Due To Rise In COVID-19 Cases

Gujarat schools for standard 1 to 9 were directed to be shut down for an indefinite period following a rise in COVID-19 cases.

According to officials, the decision to continue offline classes for standard 10 to 12 and colleges was taken by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. A release from the Chief Minister’s office stated that “All offline classes of standard 1 to 9 in government and private schools will be closed down for an indefinite period from Monday. Online education will be encouraged. The decision was taken keeping in mind safety of students when COVID-19 cases have surged in the state.”

Gujarat schools and colleges were closed in March 2020 after a lockdown was imposed. The schools and colleges reopened in phases from January 2021. Gujarat schools for standards 10 to 12 along with classes for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in college had resumed on January 11. The schools were reopened for standards 9 and 11 on February 8.

The decision to shut down Gujarat schools for standards 1 to 9 was taken after a surge in COVID-19 cases. On April 2, Gujarat reported 2,640 cases, the highest single-day addition, and 11 deaths.

Earlier this week, the Directorate of Education in Delhi announced that no schools in the capital should conduct offline classes for students of up to class 8 in the new academic year. However, the government had allowed students of classes 9,10, 11, 12 of the earlier session are to be called to the schools in case they have to submit pending project works and internal assessment requirements. They were also advised to strictly adhere to Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedure. The students were allowed to attend only with the consent of their parents.

According to Reuters, India’s daily coronavirus infections on April 2 reached the highest tally since September. According to the health ministry, 89,129 cases of new infections were recorded and 714 deaths. It is the biggest single-day rise since September 20, 2020, and the most deaths since October 21, 2020.

Over the past three weeks, India has seen a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. The states of Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Chattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Haryana are of “grave concern”. The recovery rate has dropped to 93.36 per cent, and on April 3, the death toll increased to 1,64,110 with 714 new fatalities according to the Union Health Ministry.