HYDERABAD: Authorities in Telangana said they are on high alert after 212 students got affected by the novel coronavirus in a month, with 42 cases reported from a residential school on Monday.
Even as concerns over the newly emerged variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) rise globally, the school education department said it has tracked 14 separate Covid-19 outbreaks in schools and has asked all educational institutes to strictly adhere to Covid-19 protocols.
These instances have been reported from 29 schools (both public and private), and the health department has requested education institutes to report any incident of more than five cases from a single school immediately. Small outbreaks were detected in the beginning of September and authorities sprang into action, instructing educational institutions to monitor norms.
Most new cases in residential schools
During the second wave, roughly 400 Covid-19 cases were reported from residential schools. Most of the fresh cases now have been reported in residential schools. “The cases are not very serious till now. Schools have been given detailed instructions on reporting cases and transporting students to nearby community health centres,” Dr G Srinivasa Rao, director of public health , said.
District authorities said there has been a modest increase in overall cases in Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal, and Mahbubnagar districts as well. During the day, education minister Sabita Indra Reddy met officials to review the situation in schools.
The education department also directed school management to ensure that all eligible personnel receive two doses of the vaccine.
During the review meet, the minister said that many managements and schools have not been following the Covid-19 protocol, which has resulted in spike in cases.
