UP Govt orders closure of schools for offline classes; Lucknow University closed today

Lucknow: Amid a fresh spurt of Covid cases in Uttar Pradesh, the state government on Sunday ordered closure of all schools till January 16 and said the night curfew will continue to be in force between 10 pm and 6 am in the state. The government, in a statement said, the night curfew, which happened to be in force between 11 pm and 6 am since December 25 had been extended by two hours on Tuesday.

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"All schools will remain closed till January 16, but online classes will be held as usual,” UP's Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra said ina statement, adding that the night curfew in the state will continue to be between 10 pm and 6 am.

“Officials of all the concern departments shall remain present for COVID management," he added. Mishra further said that district magistrates and police superintendents and commissioners along with officials of the medical department will review the fresh Covid cases so that the pandemic could be contained.

According to the official order issued on Thursday, “Students of Classes 11 and 12 will also attend online classes but can visit the schools for vaccination purposes.” Over 4,60,000 adolescents have received their first Covid-19 vaccine shot under the drive to inoculate those in the 15-18 age group in the state.

Meanwhile, Lucknow University will remain closed from tomorrow, January 10 to January 16 due to rising Omicron, COVID-19 cases in India. The university said that the classes will, however, continue online.