829 teachers, 575 students test positive for Covid-19 as secondary schools reopen in Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati: up to 829 teachers and 575 students tested positive on COVID-19 in different districts from the top schools reopened on November 2. Only classes 9 and 10 are held on alternate days.

Most of those who tested positive are asymptomatic and were known to be infected only in random testing.

The data available with the education department as of 3 pm Thursday sounds alarming to parents.

The teachers’ unions have also expressed serious concerns. School attendance began to drop. However, officials say there is nothing to be alarmed about.

The director of school education, Vadrevu Chinna Veerabhadrudu, said that the tests on teachers were done before classes started, but that the results came now. The teachers were asked to attend the classes pending their results.

According to him, 70,790 teachers were evaluated. Of these, 829 were positive, which represents 1.17 percent.

Of a total of 95,763 children tested, 575 are positive and represent 0.60 percent.

“The schools operate in a safe environment and with all due precautions and all the machinery of the health and medicine departments of school education in the district is vigilant. There is an encouraging and positive response among students and teachers to continue the activity of teaching-learning in schools, “Veerabhadrudu said.

Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh and Health Minister Alla Kali Krishna Prasad (Nani) have acknowledged the significant levels of infection and instructed district officials to address the situation. Alla ordered West Godavari District Health and Medical Officer (DMHO) Sunanda to make arrangements to keep infected students from Yedavalli Zilla Parishad High School under observation in home isolation.

Similar instructions were given to Prakasam DMHO Ratnavali regarding students in the schools of Patchava, Tripurantakam, PC Palli. A control room was also installed in the Prakasam DMHO office.

“All precautionary measures are in place. Parents need not worry,” Nani said.

The districts of Chittoor, Prakasam, Nellore, Krishna, Kurnool, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam reported a higher number of cases.

Veerabhadrudu dismissed reports that the number of cases increased due to the reopening of schools as false.

A teacher union leader said: “We are concerned about the number of cases. We do not have the proper arrangements for sanitation. The midday meal is a great challenge. We are asking the government to provide dry rations to students as a preventive measure. measure”.

Assistance drops

The attendance of teachers and students began to drop in schools. On the first day of Monday, 87.78 percent of the teachers and 42 percent of the students attended classes. Student attendance dropped dramatically to 35.70 on Thursday. However, teachers attend the schools, as the department closely monitors the operation of the schools. On Thursday, 89.92 percent of teachers attended schools.

Communist Party of India (CPI) Andhra Pradesh Secretary K Ramakrishna wrote to Prime Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday asking him to review the Covid-19 situation in educational institutions. He said the Chittoor district alone reported 150 positive cases. He said the government obtained consent letters from parents, to escape its responsibility to ensure the health and safety of children, teachers and staff.