Reshma Ravishanker

Even with the fear of the spread of the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus looms large in Karnataka and isolated cluster cases have come to light, schools across the state are optimistic of continuing in-person classes in the interest of students.

Karnataka on Wednesday reported two cases of the Omicron Virus, the first of its kind in India. This came one day after Karnataka announced that RTCPR positive samples would be sent for Genome sequencing to identify the variant. One of them infected by the Omicron variant is a medical professional, who informed the health department that he had no travel history to any high-risk nation.

Nooraine Fazal, Founding Managing Trustee & CEO, Inventure Academy said that the school is running offline classes from K-12 as per government direction. “We cannot be scared of every variant we see. Based on the info we have received, this is less severe. In our school, all Covid-19 protocols are followed and we have good ventilation. 100 % of our staff is vaccinated. Oximeter reading and temperature checks are done for everyone every day. The staff has gone through 8 cycles of testing while every student tested once in three weeks. Thus far, there have been no cases. We will continue to remain open till there is scientific evidence or government advisory to do so. We must take responsibility for the child’s physical, mental and academic wellbeing and set an example for them to be resilient,” she said.  

While a large majority of schools said that they would continue offline classes, a handful have reverted to offline teaching only.

D Shashikumar, general secretary, Associated Managements of Private Schools in Karnataka said, “A few schools have taken it as an opportunity as it is convenient for them to shut schools again. Even the academic fee would be collected by now. Some of the bigger schools in the City have closed soon after the news of Omicron and cluster outbreaks in Karnataka were reported. Budget schools however continue to offer offline classes as an option as well. We are not pushing for online classes again,” he said.

Schools that have not commenced in-person classes yet, however, are testing the waters. Dr Srinivasan M, President of Management of Independent CBSE Schools’ Association (MICSA), Karnataka and founder and chairman of the Gear Foundation said, “The situation is dynamic. If schools have commenced in-person classes already, they would not revert to online teaching. But those schools which are awaiting to commence classes post-Christmas will wait and watch. We are planning to commence classes in January depending on how the pandemic situation pans out.

Isolated incidents of cluster outbreaks have been reported in the state:

November 30: Two Covid-19 clusters identified in Tumakuru- Incidents of students resting positive in two medical colleges came to light

November 29: 21 students tested positive at a residential school in Hassan

November 26: 12 students of Spurthy College in Marasur, Anekal off Bengaluru test positive

November 25: 33 children and one staff of The International School Bangalore tested positive for the virus

November 24: Cluster identified at SDM Medical College and hospital, Dharwad  

Also read: Mumbai schools reopening deferred to December 15