An urgent decision has been made on the evening of January 8, 2022, by the Uttar Pradesh government. Orders have been issued to suspend all offline classes till January 16, 2022, until further notice. The order issued by higher education department secretary, Mr. Shahim Ahmed Khan states that all government and private run universities and their affiliated colleges and all degree colleges running under the Department of Higher Secondary Education, Uttar Pradesh will stop taking offline classes for the next seven days.
However, exams may continue as per the decided schedule. Online classes will commence from today January 10 onwards. Only classes 11 and 12 students may go to school for the purpose of vaccination. Earlier on January 5, 2022, the government had issued a notice regarding the closure of schools up to class 10th in Uttar Pradesh.
Classes have been postponed to combat the threatening grip of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease. The state witnessed gloomy situations on Saturday when 6411 fresh cases were recorded taking the total number of active cases to 18, 551 cases. Six patients were declared dead as the third wave began. Earlier this month an emergency meeting organized by the CM Yogi Adityanath, revealed new regulations.
Other restrictions
Back then schools were closed till January 14. In any district where the number of active cases would cross 1000 additional restrictions would be imposed. Gym, spa, cinema halls, banquet halls, eateries, and other public areas will operate only with fifty percent capacity. Night curfew has been extended till 6 AM in the morning and starts from 10 PM in the night. In the case of celebratory events and functions, only a hundred people will be allowed maximum. In the case of a hall booking, they may use only half of the surface area. An Integrated Command and Control Centre(ICCC) will be built which will function under gram pradhans in rural areas and will carry the responsibility of distribution of health kits, and ensuring vaccination.
Schools in Noida, NCR, and several other areas in the state’s vicinity had been closed earlier in the month due to requests from parents, who debated the safety of their wards. Additionally, several states and major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, God, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, etc. have also been notified regarding the closure of schools. In Assam, classes have been suspended up to class 5 and up to class 8 in Guwahati. Online classes are being conducted.
