THE demand for reopening of schools in Maharashtra will be considered after the next 10-15 days as there is a low incidence of coronavirus infection in children and students are suffering education loss, State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said here on Sunday. He said the final decision will be taken by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Schools have been shut in Maharashtra till February 15 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases across the State. “Demands are rising from certain quarters for reopening of schools as children are suffering the education loss. We will consider it after 10-15 days as there is a low (rate of) infection among children. The Chief Minister will take the final call in this regard,” Tope told reporters. Expressing concern over the rise in infections, Tope said that the people seem to be not afraid of the coronavirus.

 

“The COVID protocols must be followed strictly. Common people, as well as politicians, should avoid crowding,” he added. Speaking on the current scenario of the pandemic, the Health Minister said that though the cases are surging in Maharashtra, the number of hospitalisations and the need for medical oxygen remain low. On the first anniversary of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, the State Health Minister said that 10-15 per cent of the eligible people in Maharashtra remain to be vaccinated as taking the jab is voluntary.

 

“This is a challenge for the health department to ensure a cent per cent vaccination and we will make it possible,” he added. Maharashtra on Saturday recorded 42,462 new coronavirus infections, 749 less than Friday, besides 23 deaths, the State Health Department had said. Makes no sense for keeping schools closed in view of COVID-19: Saavedra: THERE is no justification now for keeping schools closed in view of the pandemic and even if there are new waves, closing schools should be the last resort, according to the World Bank’s Global Education Director Jaime Saavedra. Saavedra, whose team has been tracking the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector, says there is no evidence that reopening schools has caused a surge in coronavirus cases and that schools are not a “safe place”. He also asserted that it does not make sense from public-policy perspective to wait till children are vaccinated as there is “no science” behind it.