Schools want timely Covid guidelines, if any, for reopening
Nagpur: With school academic session in Vidarbha set to commence in the last week of June, educational institutions hope the govt issues Covid-19 protocol guidelines and reopening procedures, if any, as early as possible.
The increasing Covid cases nationwide and associated deaths have created an immediate need for explicit safety instructions for pupils and personnel.
Managements are worried about practical difficulties in implementing safety measures if directives arrive shortly before schools resume. Practical requirements of creating a secure learning environment, including classroom reorganisation, proper sanitisation facilities and staff training on new protocols etc demand sufficient preparation time, say academics.
Schools require advance notice to establish proper safeguards against potential virus outbreaks.
TOI spoke to a few senior school principals, but none of them had written or sought direction from the education department. "In cases like this, it is best to wait for govt to make the first move. While we have apprehension that the authorities might issue last minute guidelines, problem is that if we write then certainly some strict measures might be implemented," a principal said.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
She added, safety guidelines are always welcome, but this time it is different.
"We have seen how students lived in fear for couple of years and how it has destroyed so many of their abilities, like personal communication skills etc. We do not want to create panic by ourselves seeking Covid guidelines. Had the situation been serious, the govt would have taken proactive steps and issued guidelines," said the principal.
However, the expected return of pupils raises questions about space management for social distancing. Without proper controls, areas like classrooms, corridors and shared spaces could become transmission points. Schools seek clarity on face covering requirements, vaccination policies, distancing rules and procedures for handling Covid cases on premises.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
U.S. Health Secretary RFK Jr. ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory committee
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday (June 9, 2025) removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks. The 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices had been in a state of flux since Kennedy took over. Its first meeting this year had been delayed when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services abruptly postponed its February meeting. Mr Kennedy, who was one of the nation's leading anti-vaccine activists before becoming the nation's top health official, recently took the unusual step of changing COVID-19 recommendations without first consulting the panel. Mr Kennedy, in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, said the committee members had too many conflicts of interest. Committee members routinely disclose any possible conflicts at the start of public meetings.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
XFG Covid strain enters Telangana, cases still mild
1 2 Hyderabad: As concerns grow about rising Covid-19 cases in the country, for the first time, one of the samples sent by Telangana health officials for genome sequencing has been found to carry a new Covid-19 sub-variant called XFG. This was revealed by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the central body that tracks changes in the virus. Of the five samples sent from Telangana, four — two men and two women — showed another recent sub-variant called LF.7.9, while the XFG strain was detected in a sample from one man. Dr Kiran Madala, co-chairman of the public relations and social media committee of IMA Telangana and a Covid-19 researcher, confirmed to TOI that both variants were detected in Telangana and the sequences were uploaded on INSACOG's portal. Both XFG and LF.7.9 are sub-lineages of Omicron and trace their origin to the JN.1 variant, which led to a global wave in late 2023 and early 2024. Nationally, these two sub-variants are among the most common at present. As per INSACOG data till Monday, 172 samples were identified as XFG, 82 as LF.7.9, followed by 35 XFJ and 18 others. Telangana has now joined Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal, where the XFG variant has already been detected. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Across India, around 163 cases of XFG have been recorded so far, as per INSACOG. The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently tracking eight sub-variants globally, including NB.1.8.1, which is prevalent in Singapore. "There are ongoing studies on the transmissibility and impact of XFG, LF.7.9, and XFJ. So far, they appear mild. WHO hasn't issued any special advisory on them yet," said Dr Kiran Madala, who is also a professor at Gandhi Medical College. "Covid-19 has become endemic and is not severe in most cases," he added. While the majority of cases remain mild, experts advise caution for vulnerable groups. "According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, 66% of current respiratory viral infections in India are Covid-related. However, hospitalisation is low, including in Telangana. People with two or more comorbidities, weakened immunity, or above 70 years should remain alert," he said. Telangana currently has nine active Covid cases, down from 10 a day earlier, according to the Union health ministry dashboard. "There's no reason to panic," said Dr Ravinder Nayak, director of public health and family welfare. "The new sub-variants are part of the virus's natural evolution and are not showing significant clinical symptoms."
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Overnight lenses that reshape cornea could slow down myopia progression
Chennai: A new type of contact lens that can be worn overnight to help reshape the cornea and slow the eye's elongation, allowing people with myopia, or near-sightedness, to see without glasses or lenses during the day, will be tested in 200 children at city-based Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital for at least one and a half years, along with scientists from Japan. Myopia is a growing epidemic, afflicting the eyes of children, said the hospital's Chief Clinical Officer, Dr Ashvin Agarwal. People with myopia can see close-up objects clearly, but to read blackboards, engage in cycling, driving, or recognising the faces of people down the road, they may need glasses. "From a prevalence of 4% in 1999 to 21% in 2019, myopia is expected to affect 40% of India's population by 2040 and touch close to 50% by 2050. We are trying to slow down the progression," he said. Similarly, digital eye strain now affects 50%-60% of children in India, driven by increased screen time. Orthokeratology lenses are gas-permeable, rigid contact lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea of your eye. "People wear these lenses while they are sleeping. When they wake up and remove these lenses, their cornea holds its new shape, allowing them to see clearly without the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pinga-Pinga e HBP? Tome isso 1x ao dia se tem mais de 40 anos Portal Saúde do Homem Clique aqui Undo In refractive errors, the cornea's shape is irregular, causing blurry vision. These lenses exert gentle hydraulic pressure on the tear film beneath the lens, which in turn reshapes the corneal cells, say experts. This temporary change in corneal curvature allows light to focus properly on the retina. Experts say they work like dental retainers that maintain the shape of teeth. "It must be worn every night. Our test will show who is benefiting from these glasses," he said. For the study, launched in Feb, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital has collaborated with Japan's Menicon Co Ltd for joint research on these lenses. This study will check the efficacy and safety of the orthokeratology lens for Indian children. "We aim to develop solutions and raise awareness about the treatment," said Menicon Co Ltd regional director (China and Asia-Oceania) Shunsuke Yamagishi. These lenses won't be available for sale until doctors evaluate the benefits and side effects. "If this is successful, it will offer freedom from glasses and eventually show us the path towards a cure for myopia," Dr Agarwal said.
