Week after schools reopen, 27 students test +ve for Covid-19 in four districts of Punjab

Tribune Reporters

Ludhiana/Abohar, Aug 10

A week after regular classes resumed across the state, 27 students of five government schools in Ludhiana, Abohar, Nawanshahr and Amritsar 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. Three students of Government Senior Secondary Boys Smart School in Abohar and one in Amritsar have been infected.

Two students from Government Senior Secondary School, Saroya, in Nawanshahr, too, tested positive. DEO Jagjit Singh said the school would remain closed for 14 days.

All 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 will remain closed for the next 14 days. Those infected were Class XI students.”

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 get him/her 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.

Deputy District Education Officer Brijmohan Bedi said he had received a report of three children testing positive in Abohar and 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.