AP Schools Reopened; 262 Students, 160 Teachers Test Covid+

After postponing the reopening of schools many times following the outbreak of Covid-19, finally, the Andhra Pradesh government resumed classes for 9th and 10th classes and Intermediate (second year) on November 2. Several parents allowed their children to schools as Covid protocols were followed in the institutions. However, as many as 262 students of 9th and 10th classes and 160 teachers tested positive for Covid-19 since November 2.

Speaking on the issue, an official of the education department said that the figures are not alarming. “An average of 4 lakh students are attending school across the state every day for the past four days. It means that the number of students who tested positive is not even 1% of the total number of students who attended the school. In the case of teachers also, 99,000 teachers out of 1.11 lakh, attended the schools in the last 3 days and only 160 tested positive,” he explained.

In case of some teachers, it was learnt that the tests were done before the schools were reopened and the results came after the institutions resumed functioning.

He said that in case of students, it cannot be concluded that they contracted the virus just because they began attending the schools as all Covid protocols are being followed and neither are they leaving the schools in groups.

Over 9.75 lakh students registered for classes 9 and 10 and of them, around 4 lakh are attending schools.

Despite many students and teachers being infected by the virus, the government seems not to be in a hurry to take a decision on closing down the schools. “It is too early to decide on the matter. We are considering about students who cannot afford online classes. We will observe for a few more days and then take necessary decisions,” the official of the education department said.

Andhra Pradesh is the second worst-affected state by Coronavirus after Maharashtra. The number of Covid cases sprinted past 8 lakh cases.