Kurnool: Twenty-nine school children tested positive for Covid-19 at Sunnipenta near Srisailam in the state. Medical officials conducted the tests at four private schools, results of which came out positive, said district medical and health officer (DMHO) Dr Rama Giddaiah here on Tuesday.
The infected children were immediately isolated, Dr Giddaiah said, adding that their parents and relatives were also tested for Covid. Four of the family members were also found positive for the virus. He said all four schools had been closed for ten days and the school premises were disinfected. He said that Covid samples results came out on Sunday.
Srisailam Tahasildar B Rajendra Singh informed that all 29 Covid infected students were kept in home isolation. He said a total of 167 students had been tested in the four schools.
Of the 29 affected children, three belong to DAV, eight were from Srisailam Mata and remaining students were from Wisdom and Balasubramanyam schools. He clarified that though online classes were going on, the state government had permitted 20 percent of students in classes IX and X to go to schools to get their doubts clarified.
Dr Giddaiah said, a ‘no mask, no entry’ was being followed across the district. All businesses and places where public was likely to gather were being called for a meeting and told to comply with Covid norms.
District education officer M. Sai Ram told Deccan Chronicle that children might have contacted the coronavirus while traveling in autorickshaws from Srisailam to Sunnipenta. Srisailam being a pilgrimage center attracts pilgrims from many places and exposure to outsiders could be a reason for the sudden spurt in cases, he said.
He said that managements of four schools –DAV, Srisaila Mata, Balasuburamanyeswara and Wisdom – whose students were affected by corona, have been told to declare holidays for ten days. They must take all care to disinfect their premises and keep them hygienic.
Mr Sai Ram said that all high schools in Kurnool district were now being prepared for Covid tests and medical teams would be formed to carry on tests in a phased manner, he said.
Meanwhile, endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas called up Srisailam temple executive officer K.S. Rama Rao to check about safety precautions being taken by the temple administration.
Mr Rama Rao informed the minister that all Covid protocols were being implemented strictly. A policy of ‘No mask, no entry’ was being followed strictly and physical distance between pilgrims was being maintained. Srisailam temple is celebrating Dasara festivities, the EO said, adding that the crowds were turning up in good numbers despite rains.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said that schools would reopen on November 2 across the State and directed officials to focus on completing the Nadu Nedu programme by November 15 without any compromise in quality.
During a Spandana video conference held on Tuesday, Chief Minister Reddy said that classes would be held on alternate days for students.
While classes 1, 3, 5 and 7 would be held on one day, students of classes 2, 4, 6 and 8 would attend the next day. For schools with a strength of more than 750 students, classes would be held once in three days, the CM said.
Schools would operate only in morning shift and students would be served a mid-day meal. Chief Minister Reddy said this system would be implemented for November and a decision for December would be taken according to the situation.
He said that online classes will be conducted for students who are not willing to attend school.
