50% students in Srinagar colleges inoculated

SRINAGAR: Almost 100% staff of city colleges and nearly 50% students enrolled in all government degree colleges of Srinagar have been vaccinated against Covid-19, which may soon pave way for opening of colleges for on-campus classes in the district, officials said.

A meeting, chaired by deputy commissioner (DC) Mohammad Aijaz Asad, was held in the district on Tuesday to review the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination process. Principals of various city colleges and officials of the health department were present at the meeting

An official spokesperson said, “The DC was informed that almost 100% college staff and nearly 50% of students enrolled in Government Degree Colleges in the district have been administered the Covid-19 vaccine. A process is on to cover the remaining students.”

On Sunday, chief secretary Arun Kumar Mehta, after reviewing the Covid situation, had issued an order stating that the government shall consider phased reopening of educational institutions where 100% vaccination of staff and students has been achieved.

Following this, the Srinagar DC had asked all principals to ensure that students enrolled in their respective colleges are vaccinated. “This will help protect the college staff as well as students from contracting the virus. Besides, it creates an atmosphere to start offline classes, and ultimately keep colleges open,” Asad said. The DC further called for holding seminars and counselling sessions on Covid-19 vaccination.

“Students are being vaccinated as a priority group,” Asad said. Later, the DC held a separate meeting with senior officers of the district administration, CMO and zonal medical officers (ZMOS) and reviewed the pace of vaccination in 18-44 age group,

100% STAFF VACCINATED; OFFICIALS SAID ONCE 100% VACCINATION OF STUDENTS IS ACHIEVED, DIST MAY LOOK AT REOPENING CAMPUSES