In what has become a cause of serious concern within days of the resumption of schools, a school teacher and some students had tested positive for the Covid-19 viral infection on Thursday. According to reports, three students and a teacher in the state had confirmed to have contracted the pandemic, exactly a day after reopening the schools.

A Class 10 student studying at a government high school near Thiruchengode in the Namakkal district has tested positive for the Covid-19 viral infection and she has been undergoing treatment. The health officials in the district had collected samples from the students who had come to close contact with the infected student. The student was asymptomatic and the officials had affirmed that there was no reason for panic and the samples have been collected from family members of the students and from 30 students and teachers of the school randomly for tests. 

On Thursday, two students in the Ariyalur district had tested positive for the pandemic. Ariyalur district collector has said that two students of a government school had tested positive for the disease and both are getting treated at a hospital. Following the two cases, samples of 40 students and teachers were collected by the health officials as the school reopening has been emerging as an ordeal for the state government. Besides three students, a school teacher has contracted a viral infection despite receiving the vaccination. 

The reports say that a secondary grade teacher of a government school in Cuddalore had tested positive for the Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday. Following the development, the school premises was completely disinfected by the officials. It has been reported that the teachers and staff members of the government girls higher secondary school in Manjakuppam in Cuddalore had undergone tests a few days ago, as per the mandated guidelines. On Thursday, a secondary grade teacher in the school had complained of fever on Thursday and she was sent home. 

She was tested and her results came positive on Thursday and it came to the revelation that she had tested positive even after receiving both doses of the vaccine. As per the developments, three students and one teacher have tested positive for the pandemic so far in Tamil Nadu since the school resumption. The government has announced that the schools will be reopened for classes 9 to 12 from September 1 and with the announcement, the students of these four classes had prepared to attend the physical classes after 18 months. 

The schools were reopened at the backdrop of a decline in the Covid-19 cases and the government has released a slew of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and directed the students, teachers, and staff members to adhere to them. As per the SOPs, not more than 20 students should be allowed to sit in a room and the schools and colleges are banned from conducting meetings, assemblies, gatherings, and sporting activities. Not more than 20 students should be allowed to sit in a room and the schools and colleges are banned from conducting meetings, assemblies, gatherings, and sporting activities. The government has directed the educational institutions to strictly enforce the safety guidelines and they must sanitize the classrooms at regular intervals and must curb the grounds for unnecessary gathering by the students on the premises.