Even as the Union government included Maharashtra in a list of states of concern due to the Covid situation, the state government announced its decision to reopen schools.
State school education minister Varsha Gaikwad said that school for classes 1 to 12 will reopen from January 24. She added that the local situation would be taken into account while reopening schools. "We were in talks with teachers, task force doctors, and parents' associations. We were receiving appeals for reopening schools. We had sent the file to Chief Minister. He recommended giving this decision-making authority to local level officials. The situation is different in different parts of Maharashtra," she said.
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Gaikwad added, "SOPs (standard operating procedure) will have to be followed. Covid protocol should be adhered to. Local situation will be taken into account. Safety of children is the priority."
On January 20, Mumbai reported 5,708 new Covid-19 cases - slightly lower than the 6,032 figure seen a day earlier. The daily death toll remained constant at 12 on January 19 and 20. On January 19, Maharashtra had recorded 43,697 new infections, 10% higher than a day earlier, as per reports.