Govt. shall consider phased re-opening of Educational Institutes where 100% vaccination of staff & students has been achieved: SEC

State Executive Committee headed by Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Sunday ordered continuous closure of the educational institutions for onsite or in-person teaching till further orders.

In an order issued hereafter detailed review of the current COVID situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the SEC said the government shall consider phased re-opening of Institutions where 100% vaccination of staff and students has been achieved.

The review meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Principal Secretary to Government, Home, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and other officers of Jammu and Kashmir.

“All school and higher educational institutions, including coaching centers, shall continue to remain closed for onsite/in-person teaching, till further orders. However, the educational institutions are permitted to seek personal attendance of vaccinated staff for administrative purposes,” the order, reads, adding, “Government shall consider phased re-opening of institutions where 100% vaccination of staff and students has been achieved.”

“The maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor/ outdoor gathering shall be restricted to 25,” it reads.

The deputy commissioners, the SEC said, shall keep active track of the positivity rates in the Blocks and consider implementing stricter control measures in closed clustered spaces like Public or Private Offices, community halls, malls, bazaars etc in case the weekly positivity rate goes beyond 4 percent in these Blocks.

Intensive vaccination drives shall be taken up in all districts to ensure timely administration of the second dose besides maximizing first dose to vulnerable groups, it said.

The SEC also asked the District Magistrates to strictly ensure that there was full compliance to COVID appropriate behavior and defaulters are firmly dealt with under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code