Zubair Qureshi
Some 40 schools and colleges working under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) have been sealed in the federal capital since their opening last month in September. These schools have been closed on recommendations of the District Health Officer (DHO) after cases of coronavirus wee reported there.
This figure (40) makes almost 10pc of the total schools (424) under the FDE and the parents, teachers as well as students of the closed educational institutions are wondering what lie for them with regard to their studies, career and their children’s education.
The federal capital on Friday reported four deaths and 140 new cases of coronavirus in one day taking the toll caused by Covid-19 to 205 and number of infections 18,578.
Meanwhile, a day earlier, four more educational institutions were sealed after detection of two or more cases among their students and staff. The sealed institutions, both private and public, are located at Kund Rajgan in Chatta Bakhtawar, F-10/2 and G-6/2.
A medical college, which was among the sealed institutions, issued a circular stating that fourth and first-year MBBS classes will be held online from Oct 22 to Nov 1. All students have been advised to strictly adhere to the SOPs for Covid-19 and avoid roaming around in the public.
Moreover, routine academic activities at the institution will resume on November 2. District Health Officer Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia said 4,704 tests were conducted in Islamabad in the last 24 hours out of which 140 (78 male 62 female) were found infected with Covid-19. Dr Zaeem said the positivity rate settled at 2.9% today while 4 new deaths were reported in 1 day.
“We have been tracing almost 50pc cases through the tracing, testing and quarantine (TTQ) policy which is used through contact tracing,” he said. Dr Zia said all possible efforts were being made to curb the virus and stop another spike.
“Whenever a case is reported, we declare it as a hotspot and start intensive sampling to ensure that all positive patients are quarantined and break the chain,” he said.
Meanwhile, a college in Rawalpindi was sealed on Friday after three of its teachers contracted coronavirus.
The Government Degree College in Satellite Town was sealed after coronavirus reports of three teachers came positive. Deputy Commissioner Captain Anwarul Haq said coronavirus samples were taken from 104 students and teachers, of which three were declared positive. He said the college will remain closed for one week i.e. from October 23 to 29.
On Thursday, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) authorities had closed Fazaia Medical College for one week after eight positive coronavirus cases emerged. All academic activities had been stopped at Fazaia Medical College till November 1.
