Himachal schools to partially reopen in Feb

SHIMLA : Summer closing schools in Himachal will restart for Classes 5,8 9, 10, 11 and 12 on February 1 and winter closing schools on February 15, the state Cabinet decided in a meeting on Friday.

Urban development minister and Cabinet spokesperson Suresh Bhardwaj said teachers will attend schools regularly from January 27. Until schools reopen online classes will continue through the government’s Har Ghar Pathshala initiative.

“School management committees (SMCS) will ensure strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPS),” said Bhardwaj, adding that wearing face masks, maintaining social distance and using sanitisers will be mandatory on school premises.

Industrial training institutes (ITIS), polytechnic and engineering colleges will also reopen on February 1, while all government colleges will open for regular classes on February 8.

The cap on the attendees in social gathering has also been lifted, said Bhardwaj. Earlier, only 50 persons were allowed. Now, up to 200 guests can attend events in closed spaces and 50% of the venue’s capacity in open areas. Bhardwaj said the four makeshift hospitals setup exclusively for Covid management will be optimally utilised. The makeshift hospital at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) will be used as a medicine intensive care unit, the temporary hospital at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College as a communicable diseases and infectious diseases centre.