Schools Reopen, How Safe Is It?

Schools outside containment zones have reopened in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Sikkim with strict COVID-19 norms in place. Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had released detailed guidelines for reopening schools and colleges in the country in a graded manner, starting from October 15. Only students of classes 9 to 12 are allowed back to school. Classes to be held in shifts and all necessary protocols including social distancing and proper sanitisation of premises will have to be followed. Many other states, including Delhi, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, have decided not to reopen schools in view of the coronavirus pandemic. We speak to Dr Ruchi Seth, Principal, Lotus Valley International School in Noida and Dr Bela Sharma, Additional Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurgaon.