The National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) has advised Provincial Authorities for closure of educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities with a high COVID-19 positive rate for at least one week. However, the final decision to close schools will be taken by the Provincial Government.
The decision was made by the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) on Friday after reviewing the COVID-19 situation from tests carried out at various educational institutes across the country. “Data reveals a high association between vaccination levels and infection rate in various cities,” the statement said.
“Education institutions/premises/sections/specific classes with high positive will be closed for one week,” the NCOC added. Furthermore, the authorities will carry out mass testing in schools and other educational institutions during the next two weeks, especially in cities with a high positivity rate.
The NCOC also stated that Provincial Governments, Health Officials, Education Authorities, and School Administrations, will establish a case threshold for determining whether schools should be closed amid the surge in the COVID-19 positivity rate. However, the final decision on schools closure will be taken by Provincial Authorities based on NCOC instructions.
The NCOC has directed to carry out aggressive testing in educational institutes, including schools, colleges and universities for the next two weeks, especially in cities with high positivity rates, while also ordering the federating units to carry out special vaccination drives in schools to ensure 100% vaccination of students over 12 years of age.
The final decision to regarding the closure of schools in the country will be taken by the provincial government and a notification will be issued by the respective province.
The NCOC had stated earlier that schools with kids under the age of 12 will have 50% attendance with a three-day per week schedule, but schools with students above the age of 12 would have 100% attendance, while adding that vaccination was mandatory for students above the age of 12 years.
Read more: NCOC Announces Decision on Schools Closure.
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