More than 150 Haryana government schools student have tested positive for Covid-19 in Jhajjar, Jind and Rewari districts since the educational institutions reopened after eight months for Classes 9 to 12 on November 2.
As many as 78 students of government schools were found infected in Rewari, at least 30 in Jind and 34 in Jhajjar. Rewari district education officer (DEO) Rajesh Kumar said of the 78 cases reported since the reopening and 25 students tested positive in the past two days.
This has prompted state Home Minister Anil Vij to issue directions to the authorities to check whether the Covid guidelines are being followed in the institutions or not.
Haryana recently reopened the school for Class 9 to 12 following the central government’s directions.
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said authorities have been asked to visit the schools to check whether Covid-19 guidelines are being followed or not. “Appropriate action will be taken if any school is found at lapse. We have directed all civil surgeons to increase COVID-19 testing as well.”
Haryana Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar said the schools where Covid-19 cases were reported have been closed for two weeks. “All schools have been asked to strictly follow the protocols of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rewari Nodal Officer Dr Vijay Prakash attributed this to the festive season movement when people meet each other. “We tested students of 12 schools in Rewari and 72 were found positive for the Covid-19. We will continue testing students to curb the spread of infection,” he said.
Haryana reported 2,562 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally in the state to 2,07,039. Even in Andhra Pradesh, as many as 262 students and about 160 teachers had tested positive after the schools were reopened on November 2 for Class 9 and 10 students.
