Karnataka Schools To Start Offline Primary Classes From 25 October

With a steady decline in Covid-19 cases in the state, Karnataka has decided to reopen offline classes for primary school children from next Monday (25 October).

According to an order issued yesterday (18 October), the state government has decided to ‘open up more activities’ on the recommendations of the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee(TAC) that reviewed the current pandemic situation in the state.

This includes easing of operations at the airports in Karnataka for international arrivals - the SPO2 routine checkup will be discontinued, RT-PCR test report checking on arrival at the airport too shall be discontinued except for those from select countries notified by the union government, instead of which the passengers will be mandatorily required to upload their RT-PCR report in the Air Suvidh portal, and monitoring of passengers will be held through automated thermal cameras.

With regard to the opening of schools for primary classes, parental consent will be mandatory. Schools will be permitted to reopen only strictly adhering to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and SOPs issued by the Department of Primary and Secondary education.

As per the order, ”there shall be screening for Covid-19 symptoms on entry, 50 per cent of the capacity in a class room, provision of hand sanitisers, physical distancing of one metre minimum as practically feasible, no crowding, particularly at school entry and exit.”

The classrooms and restrooms will be disinfected daily using 1 per cent sodium hydrochloride solution. Only teachers and staff who have been vaccinated with two doses of Covid-19 vaccination will be allowed in classes I-V. Teachers above 50 years of age will be required to additionally sport face shields.