CHENNAI: After nearly 19 months, physical classes for students from I to VIII will restart in Tamil Nadu from November 1, chief minister M K Stalin said on Tuesday.
After a meeting to take stock of the Covid-19 situation, Stalin said that keeping in mind the upcoming festival season and a possible spike in Covid-19 infections, the state government has decided to extend the Covid-19 lockdown across the state till October 31.
“Medical experts, parents, and educationists say students are losing out on learning and are stressed due to the prolonged closure of schools. Hence, all schools are allowed to conduct physical classes for Classes I to VIII from November 1 following Covid-19 safety protocols,” the CM said. He also asked the school education department to make necessary arrangements for the reopening. The government had already allowed physical classes for IX to XII from September 1.
While the ban on social, political and cultural events and festivals and consecration ceremonies will continue and places of worship will remain closed from Friday to Sunday, the state has allowed weekly public grievances meeting and monthly grievances meeting for farmers at collectorates.
As per the new standard operating procedures issued for shops for the festival season, all shops should place hand sanitizers with dispensers at the entrance and check the temperature of customers, operation of air conditioners is banned and only limited number of people should be allowed to maintain social distancing in shops.
While asking people to be watchful and stay away from crowded places, the CM sought their cooperation to avoid Covid-19 third wave and told commercial establishments to follow all safety protocols.
