JAIPUR: Twenty-one people tested positive for Covid-19, including four children, in the city on Wednesday. Out of the four, two are Class 8 students of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya (SMS School). The school has suspended Class 8 from Thursday and decided to go on a hybrid mode.
SMS School director Damodar Goyal told TOI, "One of the students fell sick with cough and diarrhea. When his parents tested him, he was found positive. They immediately informed the school administration and we decided to go on a hybrid mode, i.e., both online and offline options will be given to students. Class 8 will be suspended for sometime."
This is the first case in schools after they went completely offline in Rajasthan on April 5.
Expressing his concern, Sunil Yadav, president of All Rajasthan Parents Forum, said, "This is really serious for young students and we must start taking all precautions. Masks should be made compulsory and only 50% students should be called to school..."
"...There should be an online option available for all parents in the city so that they can opt as per their comfort level."
The health department is also keeping an eye on the situation in the city. "Since four children, one a three-year-old, tested positive, we will increase our sampling," said Dr Narrottam Sharma, chief medical health officer, Jaipur-I.
Over the past four days, Covid cases have been increasing marginally. In the past 24 hours, 25 persons tested positive for Covid in the state, bringing the overall tally to 12,83,251. No death has been reported. The state toll stands at 9,552. Active cases have also increased from 76 to 129 in 10 days.
