NEW DELHI, Sep 15: While there is still no sign of respite from the Coronavirus attack and the total number of daily positive cases showing no downward curve in the country, neighbouring Pakistan seems to have overcome from the crisis ordering re-opening of the educational institutions.
After a break of nearly five months, Pakistan on Tuesday began its phased reopening of schools, in view of the falling number of new Corona cases.
While the high schools, colleges and universities reopened today, classes VI to VIII would start from September 23 and the primary schools from September 30, officials said.
As per the health protocols issued by the Pakistani government, 20 students or less could be seated in a classroom. The students have been divided into groups and would attend schools on alternate days. Masks would be mandatory for teachers and students. The institutions would ensure availability of hand-washing facilities and sanitizers at the entry gates.
All educational institutions in Pakistan were closed on March 16 after the outbreak of the pandemic and all annual examinations were cancelled.
The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan reached 302,424 on Tuesday after 404 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. Six patients died in this period, taking the death toll to 6,389, according to the Pakistan Ministry of National Health Services.
So far, 290,261 people have fully recovered from the disease, while 563 are in critical condition.
Sindh has reported 132,250 cases, Punjab 97,817, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 37,079, Islamabad 15,962, Balochistan 13,621, Gilgit-Baltistan 3,269 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 2,426. The authorities said 29,95,890 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Pakistan including 27,277 in the last 24 hours.
(Manas Dasgupta)