ISLAMABAD: Authorities have decided to seal two private schools in the federal capital for five days following emergence of two Covid-19 cases in each of the institutes.

After opening of some of the educational institutions, 19 positive cases have so far been reported from both public and private schools in the capital.

Sources said the two institutions were likely to be sealed on Tuesday.

They said after the two positive cases in a private school in Chatta Bakhtwar, Park Road, and a college in Bahria Town, the health department recommended immediate closure of the institutions.

“It is hereby advised to immediately close down the campus [located in Chatta Bakhtawar] and conduct disinfection activities. Furthermore, Covid-19 testing of all the exposed staff/students must be performed and adherence to SOPs must be ensured,” read a letter of the district health officer, (DHO) issued on Monday.

A similar letter was issued by the DHO on Saturday for the college located in Bahria Town.

“Two cases each were reported in our schools one located in Shahzad Town and one in Bahria Town, so authorities have coordinated with us for sealing them on Tuesday,” said Zafar Yousafzai, a spokesperson for the Private Educational Institution Regulatory Authority(Peira).

Meanwhile, three positive cases were also reported in the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE)-run schools.

Sources said 19 positive cases have been reported in private and public schools. They said 18 of the infected persons were staffers of schools and college while only one BS student tested positive.

Officials of FDE and Peira have been claiming that the overall situation was satisfactory, adding the 19 cases should not be a matter of grave concern.

They said so far 5,500 tests have been conducted in private schools and only 10 positive cases were reported while out of over 6,000 tests conducted in public schools, only nine cases were reported.

They said efforts were being made to ensure implementation of the standards operating procedures (SOPs) and monitoring teams regularly visited private and schools on a daily basis.

The officials said the overall performance of both the public and private schools regarding implementation of SOPs and health guidelines, was good.

Meanwhile, education minister Shafqat Mahmood and his team at National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) will review the situation to take a final decision whether to move ahead with the already announced plan of opening the institutions from Wednesday in the second phase.

The Inter-Provincial Education Minister Conference, headed by the minister, earlier this month decided to reopen the institutions in three phases starting form September 15.

From Wednesday, classes from six to eight will be reopened followed by reopening of primary schools from Sept 30.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2020