Pakistan decides not to close educational institutions amid surge in COVID-19 cases

Islamabad: Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood on Monday announced not to close educational institutions as Pakistan battles with fifth COVID-19 wave.

The meeting of Inter-Provincial Education Ministers, chaired by Shafqat Mahmood, was held today to decide on whether schools should stay open or not amid a surge in Omicron cases.

During the session, the participants decided to not close educational institutions.

In a statement, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas told that the students have strictly directed to wear masks and inoculate themselves against coronavirus to enter the schools.

Punjab Education Minister said that classes for children under 12 years will be continued with 50% attendance

Addressing a press conference, the provincial minister said that classes for children under 12 years will only be held with 50 percent attendance.

He said that 85 percent of children in schools have been vaccinated and claimed that 100 percent teachers have been vaccinated.

The decision was taken in the NCOC meeting attended by Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid and SAPM Dr Faisal Sultana and Punjab Education Minister Dr Faisal Sultan.

It is pertinent to remember that Pakistan has witnessed an enormous spike in its daily tally of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) after as many as 4,340 new infections were logged in the last 24 hours, according to morning update by ministry of health.

Pakistan’s COVID positivity rate now stands at 8.71%. While, the cumulative tally of the country has now climbed to 1,328,487. 

As the fifth wave of COVID-19 intensifies in Pakistan reported 4,027 new coronavirus infections, a new daily record, with authorities linking the spike with the Omicron variant of virus.  

According to the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), with 7 deaths in the past 24 hours, Pakistan's COVID death toll reached to 29,019.