Parents clamour for online classes as 51 teachers test Covid positive

Bengaluru: Several parents in Karnataka prefer continuation of online class in the wake of over 51 teachers in various government schools across the State testing positive for novel coronavirus since schools partially reopened on January 1.

According to the reports released by the government, as many as 51 teachers and four students have contracted Covid-19 in seven districts. Suspecting that the number could be much bigger, the Primary and Secondary Education Department official on Wednesday said they were still gathering information on the total number of teachers and students who tested positive after reopening of schools.

Speaking to the media, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Dr K.Sudhakar said, "The government is monitoring the situation and is taking steps to ensure students are not at risk of contracting the infection. There is no need to panic. We have made arrangements to ensure the students who tested positive get good treatment if necessary. We must also think about the need for the academic progress of students. We are getting details on how many teachers and students tested positive and I request everyone to not spread rumours and cause panic."

In Belagavi district alone, 22 teachers are in home quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus. This despite government's mandate that all teaching and non-teaching staff must undergo a Covid-19 test before reopening of educational institutions.

M.G. Hiremath, DC of Belagavi, on Wednesday confirmed that some teachers tested positive for the virus. "We restarted educational institutions under the Vidyagama scheme of the government by taking all precautions. For instance, in Kadoli, four teachers in a school have tested positive. We have sealed the school and it will be reopened a week later after it is full sanitised,"

In a similar case in Hassan district, 10 teachers from Holenarsipura and Hassan town, six including a school assistant from Chitradurga district, five in Chikkamagaluru and two in Koppal tested positive for coronavirus.

Meanwhile, in Chikkamagaluru, four students, who went to schools in Mudigere, Kadur and Chikkamagaluru town, tested positive.