J&K administration allows reopening of schools for Classes X, XII, higher institutes

Jammu, September 5

The J&K administration on Sunday allowed reopening of higher educational institutions and schools for students of Classes X and XII with certain conditions. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary AK Mehta.

It was also decided to retain most of the Covid containment guidelines, including night curfew (8 pm to 7 am). In a series of measures aimed at preventing the spread of Covid, the J&K administration on April 18 had ordered closure of all educational institutions, including universities and colleges, till further orders. In an order issued after a review of the Covid situation, Mehta, who is also the chairperson of the State Executive Committee (SEC), said classes for students of 12th standard would be permitted with in-person attendance not exceeding 50% of capacity on a given day.

Consent shall be obtained from parents, premises should be sanitised, proper screening regarding vaccination should be done on the school gate, the order reads.

The deputy commissioners can allow in-person classes for students of 10th standard following all protocols.

The coaching centres for civil services or engineering or NEET examinations would be permitted with limited in-person teaching for fully vaccinated staff and students. “All other coaching centres shall continue to remain closed for onsite/in-person teaching,” the order said.

It said the higher educational institutions would be permitted to commence limited in-person teaching subject to 100 per cent vaccination of staff and students and specific permission of DCs.

“Such institutions can organise special vaccination camps in consultation with district administration,” the order said.The order said the night curfew would continue to remain in force in all districts from 8 pm to 7 am, while all deputy commissioners shall intensify testing by making optimum use of available RT-PCR and RAT capacities. — PTI

110 new Covid cases in J&K

• Recoveries outpaced new cases in J&K on Sunday as 115 patients recovered while 110 new cases surfaced in 24 hours
• The caseload has reached 3,25,940 out of which 3,20,208 patients have recovered from the virus
• Ladakh saw three fresh cases, taking the caseload to 20,578. The active cases came down to 59 as 13 more patients recovered