State government has issued standard operating procedure (SOP) for re-opening of schools for conduct of regular classes for students of Classes V-X in rural areas of the State with up to 50% attendance.
In an order, chief secretary, J Alam, informed that the government has permitted the re-opening of schools in the rural areas (Classes V-X) with effect from September 20.
In this regard, the government has directed that the re-opening would be subject to all teachers and non-teaching staff of the school concerned being fully vaccinated (taken both the doses) against COVID-19 or having taken the first dose of vaccine against COVID-19, and at least 15 days having passed since taking the first dose.
However, if the aforesaid criteria for vaccination was not fulfilled, then all teachers and non-teaching staff of the school should have been tested negative for COVID-19 through either RT-PCR or TrueNat or CBNAAT once in every 15 days.
Further, the re-opening of schools would subject to adherence to all the provisions of the SOP on the preventive measures to contain spread of COVID-19.