Govt Permits Schools to Reopen in September; Issues Guidelines!

After several months, schools have received the authority to open in India after September 21, 2020. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MHA) on Tuesday night released the necessary Standard Operating Procedures.
Schools are instructed to re-open for students from classes 9 to 12. As per the MHA, schools must re-open with 50 per cent capacity, both teaching and non-teaching staff. However, students will be attending school only on voluntary basis. Virtual classes are to continue and are encouraged as well. At the school premises, opening of canteen, assemblies, and sports periods are strictly prohibited by the MHA.
Students of classes 9 to 12 must be permitted under parental consent and their interaction must be done in a staggered manner.

The SOPs mentioned the following as the general guidelines:
1. Only schools outside the containment zones are allowed to open after September 21. Staff and students who are from containment zones will not be allowed to attend schools.
2. Schools which were used as quarantine centres will have to be sanitized and deep cleaned before re-opening.
3. Social distancing, use of face masks, frequent hand washing are mandated.
4. Strict practice of covering mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing with a tissue, handkerchief, or flexed elbow and disposing the tissues properly, to be encouraged.
5. Use of Aarogya Setu app is advised.
6. If the weather permits, conducting classes in open spaces is encouraged.
7. Air conditioning must be in the range of 24-30 degrees Celsius and the humidity range must be 40-70%.
8. All campuses are to be sanitized with 1% sodium hypochlorite solution before re-opening.
9. Symptomatic people are not allowed inside the schools.
For conducting classes, the following guidelines were mentioned by the MHA:
1. Seating arrangement must be such that there is six feet between chairs and desks.
2. Adequate physical distancing with separate time slots for guidance activities must be followed.
3. Students and teachers must wear masks throughout teaching and guidance activities.
4. Sharing of stationery among children should not be allowed.
5. Social distancing should be followed in common areas.
6. Swimming pools, cafeterias, to remain closed.
7. No assemblies or sports activities or other crowding activities to be allowed.