Students elated as schools reopen in India amid rising COVID-19 cases

Students elated as schools reopen in India amid rising COVID-19 cases

Gulf Today Report More students in India stepped inside a classroom for the first time in nearly 18 months on Wednesday, as authorities gave the green light to partially reopen more schools despite apprehension from some parents and signs that infections are picking up again. Schools and colleges in the national capital and at least six more states are reopening in a gradual manner with health measures in place throughout September. The Delhi government has allowed opening of schools with preventive COVID-19 measures. The schools in the state will reopen for classes 9 to 12 in staggered manner. The new guidelines for schools include mandatory thermal screening, staggered lunch breaks, alternate seating arrangements, 50 per cent seating per classroom, and mandatory quarantine room for students in school premises. L.K. Dubey, Principal, Sarvoday Bal Vidyalay West Vinod Nagar, said, "We have called only 50 per cent of students. With proper implementation of SOPs, we have applied One Desk one Student formula to ensure total physical distancing." Rishika, a student from class 12, said, "We are excited to join schools again after several months. We are following full COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and don't want to be confined again at home." Khushi from