Week after classes resume, 24 kids test +ve in Ludhiana, Abohar

Shivani Bhakoo/ Raj Sadosh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana/ Abohar, Aug 10

A week after offline classes resumed across the state, 24 students of three government schools in Ludhiana and Abohar have tested positive for Covid-19.

In Ludhiana, 13 students are from Government High School, Kailash Nagar, while eight are from Government Senior Secondary School, Basti Jodhewal. In Abohar, three students of Government Senior Secondary Boys Smart School have been infected.

All the 73 samples taken yesterday at the Abohar school were negative, but of the 128 samples collected today, three tested positive and some have been marked as suspected cases. A team of the health department led by nodal officer Dr Gurkirpal Kaur and Dr Parminder Kaur has quarantined the three students at their homes and sent a report to the Education Department.

Principal Rajesh Sachdeva said students who came in contact with the infected children would also be tested.

Basti Jodhewal school principal Rajesh Kumar said the school would remain closed for the next 14 days. “Those infected were Class XI students. Though all students of Classes XI and XII were already told not to come for offline classes today, I have now received orders directing closure of the school,” he said.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Gagandeep Singh said camps were being organised on the instructions of the health department and tests would be carried out in all schools in the coming days. “If teachers/parents find any child sick, they must bring him/her to the hospital and get tested so that the third wave can be prevented. The teaching and non-teaching staff members who have not got vaccinated so far, must visit vaccine centres soon,” he said.

Blaming the government for the current “blunder”, a government school principal said: “Those aged above 18 years have been vaccinated, but school students are still vulnerable. During the second wave, the schools were closed, but now when children need to be protected more amid impending third wave, the government has ordered schools to reopen. We fear more students may contract virus under current circumstances.”

Deputy District Education Officer Brijmohan Bedi said he had received a report of three children testing positive in Abohar and he had informed the higher authorities. As per the state policy, only the class where students have tested positive would be suspended and the remaining school would function as usual.

Nidhi Jain, a parent, said: “Though classes have resumed, I will not send my kid to school until children are vaccinated.”