Not early to start classes?
The Himalayan Times
9 September 2021
Not early to start classes?
The COVID-19 pandemic is an on-going global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and it later spread to other parts of mainland China and around the world. Millions of people were infected and lost their lives and are still getting infected and dying every day around the globe. As of 7 September 2021, more than 221 million cases and 4.57 million deaths have been confirmed, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020, and a pandemic on 11 March 2020. Now, it has recently announced that the third wave of this deadly pandemic has already started infecting and dying thousands of people around the world. In Nepal, some people were recently found to be infected with Delta virus in some districts as reported by the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP). It is not known what happened to them.
All the educational institutions including the schools in the country were closed for the last six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Kathmandu Valley District Administration Offices (DAO) have decided to allow schools to resume classes with the physical presence of students from September 17, citing that the they cannot be closed for an indefinite period considering the future of children. All the three DAOs have directed the schools and guardians to comply with all the COVID-19 health protocols before letting children join schools. Is it possible to properly follow the safety measure in the schools? Is it possible to maintain physical distancing among the students in the school and inside the classroom? Are the parents willing to send their children when the people around are still getting infected? If any student gets infected, who are to blame for that? Is it still not too early to resume the classes?
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj
The Himalayan Times
9 September 2021
Page 4/8
Article 41/75
