Balochistan to recommend 15-day delay in reopening of primary schools

QUETTA: Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani has informed that the province would recommend in the upcoming National Command and Operation (NCOC) meeting that the reopening of primary schools be delayed by 15 days in view of rising coronavirus cases.

The statement came as Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood announced that the primary schools in the country would be reopened on September 30.

Shahwani warned the concerned authorities of a rising coronavirus trend in the province, saying that cases in Balochistan had nearly tripled since August. “Almost the same number of cases were reported in September as in May,” he said.

“Data suggests cases are increasing and there is a danger that they will further increase in winter. If the hospital flow increases, we may be heading towards a lockdown,” he warned.

The spokesperson informed that Balochistan Chief Minister had already warned of rising cases in the province. Shahwani also urged the people to standard operating procedures (SOPs) to curb the coronavirus spread.

Earlier in September, the NCOC allowed schools across the country to resume in-person classes for grades six to eight from Sept 23 as per schedule. Classes from six to eight resumed from Sept 23 in phase two while primary students are set to return to schools on Sept 30.