53 new covid cases on Sunday: Delhi Government schools plan PTMs from next week, resuming classes on agenda

Schools in Delhi have largely remained shut since March last year, with classes, exams, and assessments being carried out online. Only for a short period in January and February were students in senior classes allowed to go to school. This, however, was stopped as cases started to rise again in March.

Over the past two weeks, Covid cases in the city have remained under 100 and the positivity rate under 0.2%. Data shows that the city is better placed now in terms of spread of infection and cases than it has been since April last year.

On Sunday, the city recorded 53 cases at a positivity rate of 0.07%, and three deaths. There are 743 active cases in the city so far. Out of over 13,000 hospital beds for Covid patients in the city, only 431 are occupied.

Almost 45% of the eligible population has received at least one shot of the vaccine. Vaccines that can be given to children, however, have still not been cleared. The government is wary of calling unvaccinated students to school and the high case load and deaths seen in the last Covid wave have made it more cautious.

Along with schools and colleges, swimming pools, theatres and cinema halls, entertainment and amusement parks, spas will remain shut. Social/political/cultural gatherings are not allowed.

Delhi first entered a lockdown on April 20, and the first unlock guidelines were issued six weeks thereafter.

In the statement, the government said reopening auditoriums will provide educational institutions an opportunity to “resume academic preparation including trainings, and meetings for reopening whenever the situation improves further”.

It also said the decision will give boost to ongoing education projects of the Delhi government, like teacher trainings in offline mode, in a phased manner.