India begins unlocking of COVID-19 restrictions, experts have warned that a third wave is “inevitable”. After a horrifying second wave and speculations that the next pandemic wave may affect children, NITI Aayog (health) member Dr VK Paul cleared some doubts concerning parents, children and teachers.
Government will consider reopening of schools only when majority of teachers and staff are vaccinated. Dr VK Paul on Friday said that, “A lot of things need to be considered while deciding on the reopening schools. This is a question that keeps coming up.” “The time should come soon. But we must also consider how schools were reopened in foreign countries and they had to close after the outbreak.
We do not want to put our students and teachers in such a situation,” Dr Paul said. The NITI Aayog member explained that reopening schools before the pandemic settles or till sufficient people are vaccinated against the viral infection.
“…we should also remember that in many countries schools reopened, then outbreaks were reported and they had to shut them down again. We don’t want to put our children and teachers in that situation unless we have more confidence that the pandemic won’t harm us.
Discussion on reopening of schools remains a part of the larger discourse but information that seroprevalence remain equal among children will be useful data,” he said.
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