PANAJI: The Committee on Covid has decided to recommend to the state government to reopen schools for class I to VIII.
The last call will be carried by the State Task Force.
Dr.
Shekhar Salkar, from the expert panel, said that the pediatrician in the committee was very from the view that the situation was safe for young people to return to school.
He said that hybrid mode – with a combination of online and offline sessions – can be adopted and may be submitted to the Ministry of Education and School Management to work out modalities based on land situations.
Salkar said that since the physical class has started for class IX for XII, there is no increase in a positive rate in children it has been seen.
“Today’s agenda is only one, whether the school must start from class I and so on.
And pediatricians, who were there, very felt that we had to start.
After discussing this, we have decided that we must recommend to the government that they have to start class I and so on until class VIII.
They must start by following the correct Covid behavior and the SOP provided by the Ministry of Education, “said Salkar Journalists.
He said the overall positive level for the country was below 1%.
“We have said hybrid mode.
It is very important that it was handed over to the Ministry of Education and Management, how they could manage it.
But from our side it is quite safe now considering this week a positive rate is below 1%.
So I thought it was the right time to start, “Salkar said.
Epidemiology Utkarsh Country Betodkar has told the average level committee of Covid-19 infection for children by 10% remain constant even after class IX-XII began, he said.
The school can open from class I to VIII even soon, if the government wants, the expert committee member said.
“After the central government gave permission, we can go out and provide the first vaccination of children who have co-morbid conditions such as cancer, diabetes, obesity in the age group 12 to 18.
Our health director said we had received sufficient vaccine stocks, “Salkar said.
He said that children and parents were seen as ‘psychological’ suffering because the remaining school closed for a long time like that.
“Psychological children suffer because they don’t see their friends.
Parents also suffer because they must be at home to look after their children and with both parents who work difficult.
In Bicholim, we have nearly 40 elementary school children whose parents send them to school saying that ‘you play with them or do anything but bring them in school’, “Salkar said.
He said that it would be a challenge for schools to work out modalities to make all classes from me to Operational XII.
“The number of students will increase, but the number of classrooms will be the same.
At present, only class IX and X students come to school and the rest of the class are empty.
But now class I to VIII will also begin, how to do it will be a problem that must be solved by the Ministry of Education and Management, “Salkar said.
Since the physical session for class IX to XII returned, the recognition of children in the hospital, especially for Covid had nil, he said.
“Even the case that fell since class IX for XII began.
Most positive children are those who have been taken for care for several other diseases.
Recognition for Covid itself is zero.
After the class continues to young children and if there are some covid infections in some schools or clusters, we can advise the government based on the situation, perhaps by closing the other school.
If the overall positive in schools rises then we can guide the government in that case, “Salkar said.
The fact that almost all sectors has been opened in the country and a positive rate still low means that the covid situation is controlled in Goa, the doctor said.
“Practically everything is open and with it also if the positive level has a down which means covid is under control.
Not that we have to relax, we must follow all Covid behavior accordingly.
We saw last year that despite heavy rush in December-January, the Covid case did not increase, they increased in April, which means there is mutation.
So, we have to wait, and if there is no mutation, we can escape the third wave.
Today, at least we feel there is no more mutation, “Salkar said.
Goa Expert Panels make a nod for offline classes for I-VIII
