After the school reopened in Andhra Pradesh, as many as 160 teachers and 262 students tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.
Government schools for class X and class IX reopened from the 2nd of November.
The schools reopened as per the norms of COVID-19, following guidelines for the safety of the students.
According to the statistics provided by the School Education Department, a total of 70,790 out of the total 1.89 lakh government teachers were tested for COVID-19, of which 829 — teachers tested positive.
According to sources, the highest number of 172 teachers tested positive in East Godavari, followed by 141 in Srikakulam.
With respect to students, 95,763 students were tested for the virus and of them, 575 tested positive.
V. Chinna Veerabhadrudu, the School Education Commissioner said the figures are not alarming and the situation is under control.
Explaining his point, Mr. Chinna said, “About four lakh students are attending school across the State everyday. This means that the number of students who tested positive is not even 1 % of the total students attending classes. With respect to teachers also, as on Wednesday, 99,000 teachers, out of the total 1.11 lakh, attended schools and only 829 have tested positive.”
He said, “In case of students, we cannot conclude that they contracted the virus because they started going to school. There are two reasons – first, all the schools are found to be following each and every rule prescribed as per the Covid-19 protocol and second, in maximum cases the students’ parents are coming to drop and pick up them and barely any students are going home in groups on their own.”
Mr. Chinna further added, “It is too early to take any such decision. We have to consider the students who belong to the ‘no-tech’ category (does not have access to online classes) as they suffered the most during the lockdown. After observing the situation for a few more days, we will take an appropriate decision. For now, we have instructed the schools to let the students of lower class disperse an hour before the higher class. Similarly, other guidelines will also be added to ensure safety of students.”
Andhra Pradesh Government is likely to reopen schools for all students in December.
Stay tuned for further updates.
