Punjab recommends 50% attendance in schools for children under 12

LAHORE: In a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 amid the fifth wave of the pandemic, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas has recommended 50% attendance in schools for students below the age of 12 years.

Speaking at an event, Murad Raas said that no decision has been taken yet to close educational intuitions in Punjab.

He maintained that social gatherings were fueling the coronavirus surge in the country. Opposing the closure of schools, the Punjab education minister said that COVID-19 related SOPs were being implemented in true letter and spirit in the educational institutions in the province. The majority of students have been vaccinated against coronavirus, he added.

‘COVID-19 situation under control in Punjab’

Speaking at the NCOC’s meeting held today to review the COVID-19 situation in the country and take decisions to curb the virus spread, Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid has said that the virus situation in the province was under control.

Opposing the closure of educational institutions, she told the meeting that 85% of students in the province were fully vaccinated. In addition, 57% of the total population in the province had received two doses of the vaccines, the minister added.

She urged the masses to adhere to the SOPs to prevent themselves from contracting the virus. Yasmin Rashid said that the government was taking measures to control the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.