Delhi govt to reopen colleges and schools from Feb 7

In view of the consistent decline in the number of Covid cases, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has decided to reopen schools, colleges and gyms and also exempted single drivers from wearing masks in cars, sources said on Friday. 

Amid the ongoing Covid pandemic, earlier, the government fixated a night curfew starting from 10 pm to 5 am, but now it has been reduced by an hour; starting from 11 pm.

According to sources, schools will be open in a phased manner and they would reopen from February 4 for classes 9 and 12. Teachers who aren't vaccinated will not be permitted in schools. Sources also added that offices will function with 100 per cent attendance in Delhi. 

Institutions of Higher Education and coaching institutes have been allowed to reopen subject to Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) and strict adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour, sources said. 

They added that single drivers in cars to be exempted from mask mandate. Earlier, the Delhi High Court, on April 7, 2021, ruled that wearing a mask or face cover in a vehicle occupied by either a single person or multiple persons is compulsory in view of the prevailing Covid pandemic.  

The decision of easing the Covid restrictions and reopening educational institutions came after the Centre stated that Covid and positivity rate, or the number of people infected every 100 tests, have started falling. As on Thurday, Delhi reported 2,668 new Covid cases during the last 24 hours with the positivity rate declining to 4.3 per cent.