Telangana Shuts Schools, Colleges from 24 March Amid COVID Surge

This includes all hostels, gurukul schools, govt and private educational institutions but excludes medical colleges.

Image used for representation.

(Image Courtesy: The News Minute)

In view of the COVID-19 rising cases on campuses, the Telangana government on Tuesday has decided to temporarily close all educational institutions except for medical colleges across the state from Wednesday, 24 March. This includes all hostels, gurukul schools, government and private educational institutions in the state, except medical colleges.

Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy told the Assembly on Tuesday that keeping in view of the health of students and teachers, and to contain COVID-19 in the state, as a precautionary measure, the government has decided to temporarily close educational institutions starting from tomorrow (24 March, 2021).

This will exclude medical colleges but will apply to all hostels, gurukuls and government and private educational institutions. Students will have online classes as earlier.

“A few cases have been registered here and there in educational institutions in our state. Since teaching and non-teaching activities happen in groups in educational institutions, the government believes that coronavirus can spread rapidly. States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and others have already shut their educational institutions. Even in our state, parents have expressed concerns, and have requested the government to temporarily shut schools,” Sabitha Indra Reddy said in the Assembly during the ongoing Budget Session.

It was earlier reported that the Telangana government is mulling closure of schools after over 100 students and staff members of at least seven schools tested positive for the coronavirus. The state is facing a sudden spurt in new infections, a cause of concern for the state authorities.

Schools for Class 9 and above were re-opened from 1 February. According to the state government on Tuesday, Telangana reported 412 new cases during the last 24 hours. The fresh cases pushed the state's cumulative tally to 3,03,867. Greater Hyderabad saw a spike in cases as the state capital's daily count once again crossed 100. A total of 103 people were tested positive in the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Districts also saw a surge. Nirmal reported second highest number of cases at 32, followed by Mechal Malakjgiri (31), Rangareddy (27) and Nizamabad (18).

(This story was first published in The News Minute and has been republished with permission)