– Dipta Joshi
All schools under the jurisdiction of the Mumbai’s local governing civic body, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) will remain shut until December 31. The decision has been taken fearing a second wave of COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across the city.
Speaking to the media, Mumbai’s mayor Kishori Pednekar said, “All schools in BMC jurisdiction to remain closed till 31st December. The decision has been taken in the wake of the rise in COVID-19 cases in Mumbai. Schools will not re-open on November 23.”
The decision will impact all schools, across all boards that are within MCGM’s jurisdiction extending from Colaba in South Mumbai to Mulund, Mankhurd and Dahisar in North Mumbai. However, following the state education department’s directive, schools outside of the MCGM’s jurisdiction will reopen on November 23 for classes IX-XII.
Earlier, on November 7, the state’s education minister, Varsha Gaikwad had announced the re-opening of schools within Maharashtra. The state also released a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) requiring schools to have sanitisers, thermal guns and pulse oximeters for daily testing of students. The SOP makes it mandatory for teachers to undergo COVID-19 tests before schools re-open while schools are expected to get parents’ consent regarding their wards attending physical schools. However, involving the local governing bodies in the process, the minister has asked local authorities to assess the situation and take the final decisions regarding the re-opening.
While Maharashtra continues to remain the country’s most COVID-19 affected state at 17,63,055 (November 19), Mumbai has reported 924 fresh cases in a single day taking its overall numbers to 2,72,449 (November 19). Mumbai currently has a total of 439 active containment zones and 4,491 Corona virus affected buildings remain sealed. Maharashtra’s chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray has been repeatedly warning citizens of a second wave of COVID-19 infections following Diwali and the onset of winter.
Also read: Maharashtra: Parents wary of sending children to school amid COVID-19
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