Bhubaneswar: All schools in Odisha will continue to remain closed until further orders in view of a possible second wave of infection next month, State School and Mass Education Minister Sameer Dash announced on Friday.
The State government had earlier announced that classes for students of IX to XII will resume in November for which the guidelines and necessary SOPs were being prepared by the School and Mass Education Department.
However, the decision was revoked today keeping in view the projections that Odisha may witness a possible revival of Covid-19 infection during winter, probably during the second week of December.
Though no official order has been issued as yet, S&ME minister has clarified that the state government has decided not to reopen schools in November.
"The decision to reopen schools in November has been put on hold. There is a possibility of a Covid-19 second wave in the State next month. So we have decided that as of now schools will not reopen. They will continue to be closed till further orders," said the minister.
"Reviewing the prevailing situation in the state, CM Naveen Patnaik has asked people to remain cautious in order to avoid the second wave of COVID-19 infections. We are awaiting new guidelines from the health department in this regard, accordingly, the next decision would be taken," added Dash.
It is pertinent to mention that as many as 262 students and some 160 teachers have tested positive for coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh in the past three days after schools reopened on November 2 for Class 9th and 10th students, said an official.