NCOC directive: Sindh notifies new restrictions for schools

Students 12 years of age and above must be vaccinated, states Sindh Education Department notification

 Karachi: The Sindh government on Thursday notified new restrictions in schools in line with the directions issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC).

“In pursuance of the decision of the NCOC meeting held on 19/01/2022 and with the approval of the Competent Authority, keeping in view the rapid spread of COVID-19 omicron situation at present, the following decisions shall be strictly complied with throughout made for. In all public, private and allied subunits of Sindh province under the administration of this department,” read the notification issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of Sindh.

Following are the new instructions for schools in Sindh:

• Classes for students below 12 years of age will remain open with stringent COVID protocols, with 50% attendance on staggered days.
• Classes will be open for students above 12 years with stringent COVID protocol (fully immunized) and 100% attendance.
• Vaccination of students above 12 years will be mandatory (at least one dose) from February 1, 2022. No exceptions will be considered except for medical reasons.
• Aggressive sentinel testing will be conducted in educational institutions for targeted closures in educational institutions with high disease prevalence.