Uttarakhand School Closed Update: Amid the rising cases of COVID-19, the Uttarakhand Government has decided to close down schools and educational institutions in Haridwar, Dehradun, Haldwani districts until 30th April 2021.
The decision has been taken by the state Cabinet keeping in mind the ongoing Kumbh Mela and the 2nd wave of Coronavirus infections. According to the official announcement, all the educational institutions in the above-mentioned districts will remain closed from April 9 to 30, 2021.
The decision was announced by the District Magistrate of Haridwar C Ravishankar yesterday late evening. While schools have been closed for physical – regular classes, online classes, and virtual learning will continue for all students.
Kumbh Mela and 2nd Wave of COVID-19
As per the official announcement, the three districts of Haridwar, Dehradun, Haldwani have seen a rapid rise in the COVID-19 cases recently. Another reason for the closure of schools and educational institutions in these districts is the ongoing Kumbh Mela.
Every year, Kumbh continues for nearly four months but this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the duration of the congregation has been curtailed to one month. This has led to devotees visiting Uttarakhand, especially these three district’s manifolds. Therefore, as a measure to keep students safe during these two events, the state Cabinet has decided to close down schools and educational institutions.
COVID-19 Situation in Uttarakhand
As per the local media reports, during the last 24 hours, the state of Uttarakhand has reported a total of 787 new COVID-19 cases. On the other hand, official numbers indicate that the number of patients recovered from in last 24 hours stands at 265, while 3 patients succumbed to the infection. Citing the sudden spike in the COVID-19 cases, the state government has asked district administrations to take pre-emptive and precautionary measures to contain the spread of the disease. As part of these measures, schools and educational institutions have been closed in Haridwar, Dehradun, and Haldwani districts.