Amravati: Schools for class 5 to 8 reopened for physical classes last month in Maharashtra. However, after the surge in COVID-19 cases, schools in Amravati district of the state have decided to shut till February 28.

The District Collector of Amravati Shailesh Naval on Friday ordered to close all colleges in the district till February 28 amid rising COVID-19 cases. The Amravati municipal commissioner also later ordered all schools shut for the same duration. The classes will continue for Standard 10 and Standard 12.

Another district to join Amravati is Wardha. The Collector here also ordered the suspension of schools till further notice.

TEACHER TESTED POSITIVE IN PUNE’S SCHOOL

Schools in Pune city resumed functioning for Class 9 to 12 from last month however physical classes for Class 5 to 8 starting from February 1. Days after re-opening, a teacher in one of the civic-run schools in Pune tested positive for novel coronavirus on Friday.

Sri Sant Gadge Maharaj School in city’s Kondhwa area was closed after a teacher-tested positive for COVID-19. According to the COVID-19 safety protocols, 12 other teachers also underwent the RT-PCR tests on the same day.

The school-based in Kondhwa houses 1,165 students admitted between Class 5 to 8. Only 694 parents gave consent to send their children to the school for physical classes. No fresh symptomatic cases are being reported among students, teachers and non-teaching staff. Officials from the corporation are now planning to reopen the school soon after remaining staff tested negative for COVID-19.