COVID-19 Disrupts Offline Classes Again, Schools & Colleges Now Closed in Many States

The COVID-19 and Omicron cases are now in surge across the country. People in many states are again facing lockdown-like curbs. In the last 24 hours, the total cases of COVID-19 stand at 33,750. At the same time, there have been more than 1500 cases of Omicron. The rapid surge of caseload has once again fueled the discussions of lockdown in the country. Many states have also announced night curfew. Cases of coronavirus were also reported in many schools across the country. Due to this, many state governments have now discontinued the offline classes till further notice. Below we’ve mentioned state-wise updates of School and Colleges closure. 

West Bengal

In view of the threat of COVID-19, the West Bengal government has decided to close all the schools-colleges and other educational institutions of the state from Monday, January 03, 2022, till further notice. State Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi had given this information on Sunday. In fact, on Wednesday, the Chief Minister of the state Mamata Banerjee had advised the officials to review the measures taken for handling the Omicron variant in the state and to shut down educational institutions for some time.

Haryana 

In light of the surge in cases of COVID-19 in the state, the Haryana government has decided to close all the schools and colleges in the state till January 12, 2022. In the last few days, there has been an increase in the cases of COVID-19 in the state. The government issued an official notice that states that all schools, colleges, polytechnics, IT, coaching institutes, libraries and training institutes (whether government or private), Anganwadi centres, etc will remain closed in the state.

Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government has also decided not to conduct offline classes for students of 1st to 8th standard till January 10, 2022. The announcement regarding the same came into the news on 31st December 2021. The government has told in the official notification that the offline classes from class I to VIII will remain closed till January 10, 2022. Classes from class 9th to 12th will run by following all the COVID-19 protocols. At the same time, classes for UKG and LKG will not be conducted till further notice.

Odisha 

The state government of Odisha has decided not to start schools for classes 1 to 5. Earlier these classes were to start on Monday, January 3, 2022. The state Education Minister, SR Dash said that keeping in view the increase in the cases of COVID-19 in the state and the reaction of the family members, the government has decided not to start classes from 1st to 5th from January 3, 2022.

Maharashtra 

The Maharashtra government may soon take a decision to close all educational institutions including schools, colleges in the state. Maharashtra has seen the maximum number of cases of COVID-19 and its Omicron variant. Minster Aaditya Thackeray has said to take a decision on the closure of educational institutions in the next 15 days. At the same time, state Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad had also told that if the cases of COVID-19 infection continues to increase in the state, then the government may consider closing the schools.

Gujarat 

In view of the increase in COVID-19 cases, the School Association in Gujarat has written a letter to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday, 31st December 2021. In this letter, the association has demanded a phased closure of offline classes. Many school students have already been exposed to COVID-19 in the state.

Delhi 

The cases of COVID-19 infection are also increasing rapidly in the country's capital, Delhi. At present, due to the Yellow Alert in Delhi, all the schools have been kept closed till further orders. In view of the cases of COVID-19, it is being speculated that the schools may be closed for a longer time.

Uttar Pradesh

In between the election campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, it has been decided to keep all the schools closed from December 31, 2021, to January 14, 2022, due to the winter holidays. Earlier, the government had announced the closure of classes up to class 8. In Uttar Pradesh too, the cases of COVID-19 are increasing rapidly. More clarity on the continuation of schools in the state would come after 14th January.