Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana August 17 Recently 20 schoolchildren tested Covid positive in two different government schools in the city following which panic gripped the authorities and intense testing started taking place in schools. The government may have issued guidelines to be followed to avoid spread of infection and the school managements may be trying their best to adhere to the protocol but as far as students are concerned they neither look worried nor cautious in observing Covid norms of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. At Shadeed Sukhdev Thapar Secior Secondary School for Girls in Kochar Market a majority of students were seen without masks during recess time. One of the students said “We are asked to wear masks all the time but it is not possible. We feel suffocated and since it is recess time we prefer inhaling fresh air outside”. Students did not even maintain social distancing. They were seen roaming in groups and buying eatables from near the gate in good number. Even at Government Primary School Kochar Market children were seen playing without masks during the recess and sharing their lunch. Even while getting mid-day meals in a queue no distance was maintained among the students. Teachers also looked helpless in the situation. One of the teachers on the condition of anonymity said “We take their responsibility when they reach here. We get their hands sanitised and make sure that masks are not removed in classrooms. But during recess and when the school gets over we cannot go after them ensuring that they follow the norms. Testing is being done in the school but it hardly serves any purpose because not all students are tested. Random checking of 40-50 students is done and then the teams from the Health Department move to other schools”. At Government Model Senior Secondary School Cemetry Road children were seen wearing masks in classes and the rush of students was also manageable. Principal Taskeen Akhtar said earlier 50 per cent students were called on rotation basis but now 30 per cent students were being called due to Covid cases reported in the government schools. Meanwhile school managements said after Covid cases being reported parents were again reluctant to send their wards to schools.

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