Schools in Delhi have been allowed to partially open for students of Class 10-Class 12 August 9 onward. According to an order released by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), schools will open for work related to admission and practical activities for board exams.
The health checkup camps situated on school campuses have also been permitted to resume.
The DDMA has also allowed the opening of weekly markets across the city from Monday with a rider that the vendors and visitors shall follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour. The DDMA, however, specified that schools, coaching centres and colleges will remain closed for teaching purposes.
"Students of class 10 to 12 in the city are permitted to visit their schools from August 9 (Monday) for admission-related work including counselling, guidance and practical activities for board exam.
"Health checkups and referral services situated in schools or conducted from there can resume. Children of all age may visit these centres accompanied by their parents or guardians," the DDMA order stated.
It said the Directorate of Education shall issue appropriate guidelines with respect to these permitted activities to ensure that COVID-19 protocols are followed and children safety is ensured.
The order also said, "All weekly markets are allowed subject to strict compliance of guidelines issued by the government. No unauthorised weekly market is allowed to function."
The order added that roadside weekly markets will not be allowed.
Earlier on Friday, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal had directed officials to set up an expert committee to chalk out a detailed plan for reopening of schools in Delhi.
The committee will work on finalising a detailed SOPs, assess preparedness of schools, vaccination of teaching and non teaching staff and addressing concerns of parents, sources told PTI.
The Delhi government had last week sought feedback from students, teachers and parents about the reopening of schools and has received nearly 35,000 suggestions so far.
Delhi was hit by a brutal second wave of coronavirus which claimed a large number of lives daily with shortage of beds and oxygen worsening the situation.
Schools in the national capital were ordered shut last year in March ahead of a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.
While several states started partial reopening of schools in October last year, the Delhi government allowed physical classes only for grades 9-12 in January this year, which were again suspended following the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases.
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