Chandigarh schools to reopen for Class IX-XII from July 19

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 13

After witnessing a sharp decline in fresh coronavirus cases, the UT Administration has announced further relaxations in restrictions imposed in the city.

After a detailed discussion at a review meeting, which was chaired by UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore, it was decided to reopen schools after a hiatus of over three months for Class IX to XII.

Coaching institutes allowed to open; Rock Garden too

• Schools will start functioning from July 19 for Class IX to XII. However, online mode of teaching will continue
• Coaching institutes allowed to function from July 19 with the condition that eligible students and staff should have been administered at least one dose of the vaccine
• The number of guests at social gatherings such as wedding increased from 100 to 200 or 50 per cent capacity of the banquet hall, whichever is less
• Rock Garden and museums to open from Wednesday
• Cinema halls and spas also allowed to function with 50 per cent capacity

According to an order issued by UT Adviser Dharam Pal, the schools will start functioning physically from July 19 for Class IX to XII subject to parents’ consent. However, the online mode of teaching will continue.

The Administration has also allowed coaching institutes to function physically from July 19 with the condition that all eligible students and staff should have been administered at least one dose of the vaccine and strict adherence to the Covid protocol.

The authorities have also decided to increase the number of guests at social gatherings such as wedding from 100 to 200 or 50 per cent the capacity of the banquet hall, whichever is less, with the condition that all adult guests and staff of hotels or banquet halls should have received at least one dose of the vaccine or should have a negative RT-PCR report of the past 72 hours.

The Administration has also decided to reopen Rock Garden and museums, and cinema halls and spas with 50 per cent capacity from tomorrow.

During the meeting, Dr GD Puri of the PGI said almost all OPDs had been opened at the PGI. He said they were doing about 100 surgeries daily and at present, about 1,500 patients were admitted. There were over 200 patients in the emergency wing, which was almost full. Dr Puri said two oxygen plants each of 1,000 litre per minute (LPM) capacity had been commissioned in the PGI.

The Administrator advised the PGI to start the genome sequencing lab at the earliest.

Dr Jasbinder Kaur, Director-Principal, GMCH, Sector 32, said all operation theatres in the hospital had been restarted. Dr Amandeep Kang, Director, Health Services, UT, said 6,20,721 doses of the vaccine had been administered in Chandigarh so far. While 71 per cent of the eligible population had been given the first dose, 17 per cent were fully vaccinated.

At present, about 55,000 doses were available in government hospitals and 45,000 in private hospitals. About 75,000 doses of the vaccine had been allocated by the Centre for the remaining period of July and would be received shortly.

She said enough doses of the pneumococcal vaccine had been received from the Centre for immunisation of children up to one year of age and would start the drive from July 16 in all government hospitals and health and Wellness centres free of cost.

The Health Department would start a door-to-door survey-cum-drive in Dadu Majra and Mani Majra for encouraging vaccination of the left-out eligible population with the help of councillors of these areas.

MC Commissioner KK Yadav said road gullies had been cleared and 18 teams deputed to tackle temporary flooding during heavy rain in the city. A helpline number — 0172-2787200 — had been set up for redressal of complaints in this regard.