Amid thin attendance, two schoolteachers test positive

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 2

Amid thin attendance fearing Covid-19, two government schools in the district were closed on Monday for two days after their staff members tested positive for the virus. One teacher at Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Todarpur, and one at GSSS, Laut, tested positive for the virus on Sunday. Following detection of positive cases, the Health Department sanitised schools today.

Dharminder Kaur, principal, Government Senior Secondary School Todarpur, said health officials conducted Covid test of the entire staff on Friday. Of the 19 staff members, one teacher tested positive for the disease, she added.

“The school has been closed for two days after positive cases surfaced. We will reopen school only after orders from higher-ups,” she said.

Notably, a clerk and school principal, last month, had tested positive at the GSSS, Todarpur.

Devinderjit Kaur, Senior Medical Officer, Kallon Majra, said they tested staff of the GSSS, Laut. Only one teacher tested Covid positive, she added. The teacher was a resident of Patiala city, she said. The SMO concerned had been informed for contact tracing, she added.

Meanwhile, Harinder Kaur, District Education Officer (DEO), said so far, around 12 staff members had tested positive for the virus after schools reopened.

“Around 12 staff members in 10 schools have already tested positive for the disease. However, majority of the infected staff have already recovered and re-joined their duty,” she added.