The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday announced that all schools in the city will continue to remain shut until December 31, keeping in mind the coronavirus situation in the financial capital, amid a spike in coronavirus cases.
"All schools in BMC jurisdiction to remain closed till 31st December. The decision has been taken in the wake of rising in COVID-19 cases in Mumbai. Schools will not re-open on November 23rd," said Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar.
However, schools in other cities of Maharashtra can reopen as per schedule taking into account local conditions and the prevailing pandemic situation, an official said. "Schools in other parts of the state can be reopened from November 23 if local conditions are favourable," said the senior official from the school education department.
If there are no cases or very few infections, then local authorities such as municipal commissioners or district collectors are empowered to reopen schools, he added.
All the schools that will open on Monday for classes 9 to 12 are getting sanitized, by following the guidelines. The state education department also made it mandatory for teachers to undergo an RT-PCR test for COVID-19 before the schools reopen, so as to minimise the risk of the virus.
Schools in Maharashtra, which are shut since March due to the coronavirus outbreak, were set to reopen for Classes 9 to 12 from November 23, post-Diwali-holidays.
"COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the city. Some schools were used as testing and quarantine facilities amid the pandemic.
"To prevent further spread of the infection, we have decided to keep schools closed till December 31," Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar said.
After recording 409 new coronavirus cases on November 16, the lowest daily count since April, the city registered 541, 871 and 924 fresh infections on November 17, 18 and 19, respectively.
Schools in the state have remained shut for nearly eight months due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, and classes are being conducted online.
Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government had announced that schools will reopen for Classes 9 to 12 from November 23 with all COVID-19 safety protocols in place.
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