COVID-19: Schools should not be shut, says Former ICMR Scientist

Many schools have been closed in Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad due to the spread of coronavirus infection among children.

Former head scientist of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), Dr Raman Gangakhedkar has said that schools should not be shut due to increasing cases of COVID-19 infections in some parts of the country as it would hamper education and overall development of children.

Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, former head scientist of epidemiology and communicable disease at ICMR talking about the increasing cases of Coronavirus infection said: “I don't think this is the 4th wave. The entire world continues to witness BA.2 variant affect people across the world. Some of us have misunderstood mandatory use of a mask which has been withdrawn means no fear of acquiring infection.”

In the past week, there has been a nearly three times increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, particularly in the Delhi-NCR region. Many of the schools have been closed in Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad due to children getting infected. Uttar Pradesh government and the Haryana government have made masks mandatory in public places in the NCR region and adjoining areas.

“We shouldn't shut schools as it will hamper education & overall development of students. Students above 12 years of age who are immunodeficient should take the vaccine as soon as possible,” said Dr. Gangakhedkar as reported by ANI.

He has also stated that no new variant has emerged so far. Those who are older, those who have not taken vaccines, those who have got infected so far, need to remember to use a face mask, he said.

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