Himachal schools reopen after 4 months to thin attendance

For the first time in four months, school campuses in Himachal were abuzz with activity as these opened up for physical classes on Monday.

With the fear of the third wave of Covid-19 still looming large, the schools witnessed a thin attendance even as schools assured strict compliance with standard operating procedures.

While for Classes 10 to 12, regular classes have resumed, students of Classes 5 and 8 have been allowed to come for doubt clearance.

A micro-plan has been prepared at the school-level to ensure compliance with Covid-19 norms. Students were allowed to enter only after thermal scanning and sanitisation.

Entry and exit from classes have been staggered. Classes having a large strength have been divided into groups and teaching will be held in separate rooms. Wearing mask is mandatory for students, teachers and non-teaching staff.

Anish Banyal, principal of Government Senior Secondary School (Boys), Dharamshala, said there was enthusiasm among students.

Coaching centres, tuitions and training institutes had opened in the state on July 26 while academic session in colleges starts on August 16.

1 Covid death in HP; 118 fresh cases in J&K

DHARAMSHALA: Himachal Pradesh on Monday recorded 208 fresh Covid-19 cases taking the state’s case tally to 2,06,369, while death toll mounted to 3,506 as one more patient succumbed to the contagion.

In J&K, 118 fresh coronavirus cases and two deaths related to the virus were reported; there were 73 recoveries. Patients cured in the UT was 73 with active cases spiking to 1,254.