Amritsar/Ludhiana (Punjab) [India], August 2 : Students returned to schools in Punjab after a year with COVID-19 protocols in place. At Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Amritsar, school principal Mandeep Kaur told ANI, “The school has reopened for students of all classes now. Arrangements for ensuring proper sanitization in the vicinity have been made.” “Students have also been asked to carry their own sanitizer. Wearing a mask has been made compulsory. All teachers have received double doses of vaccines for protection against the virus. We have reduced the strength of classes to 50 percent.”
“Also, for those who do not feel comfortable attending physical classes, online classes will continue simultaneously. Hence, it is not compulsory for students to come here”, said the Principal.
Ashima, a school teacher said, “We have sanitized the school properly. We have also taken parents’ permission for allowing them to attend classes via physical mode. Children are advised to carry their own sanitizer, water bottles and tiffin.”
At Government Senior Secondary Smart School, school Principal Sanjeev Thapar said, “Our school will function in double shift. We have nearly 3500 students in our school. Of this, around 1500 students have turned up in the morning shift. We are ensuring that all COVID-19 guidelines are adhered to in the school premises.”
Amir, a student said, “I am happy that school has reopened after a year. I am happy to see my friends again after a long time.”
Earlier, the Punjab government had allowed schools to reopen for students of Classes 10 to 12 from July 26.
On July 31, an order issued by the state government stated the reopening of the government and non-government schools from August 2.
The Punjab government had declared preparatory leave in schools for all the classes earlier on March 12 this year, due to a surge in Covid cases in the state.

Schools re-open in C’garh amid relaxations in COVID-19 restrictions

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], August : Amid relaxations in COVID-19 restrictions, some schools in Raipur re-opened on Monday for classes 10th and 12th.
A class 12th student of Holy Cross School while speaking to ANI said, “We are excited to meet our friends and teachers. We are going to the school after such a long time, it feels so good.” “We are coming to the school after a long time. I am happy to see my friends after so long. I was bored attending online classes all this while,” said another student of the same school.
The decision to re-open government and private schools with 50 per cent attendance across the state for classes 10th and 12th came at a recent cabinet meeting chaired by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
The state government had in an official order said schools will be reopened in districts with a positivity rate of 1 per cent.
Educational institutions in the state were shut due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh has so far reported 1,002,222 COVID-19 cases, 13,525 deaths and 986,778 recoveries. Active cases in the state stand at 1,919.