ISLAMABAD: Schools across Pakistan resumed regular classes for five days a week starting from Monday after the country of 220 million witnessed a decline in COVID-19 infections and deaths in recent weeks.
Announcing the move in a tweet on Feb. 26, the education ministry said: “All schools will go back to regular classes from 1st March.”
It also reiterated that the use of face masks, social distancing measures and hand washing techniques would continue to be applicable.
All schools will go back to regular classes from 1st march. It is reiterated that the SOPs issued by the Ministry in consultation with Health/NCOC are still fully applicable on schools with a special emphasis on use of Masks, Physical Distancing & Hand washing. @Shafqat_Mahmood pic.twitter.com/rjO0p4cQsF
— Ministry of Federal Education/ProfessionalTraining (@EduMinistryPK) February 26, 2021
In March last year, Pakistan had shut down all educational institutions to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease.
However, citing a drop in the daily cases of coronavirus, authorities decided to reopen the schools in a phased manner a few months later.
Pakistan has reported a similar trend in recent weeks, with 1,392 new infections recorded on Monday compared to a peak of more than 6,800 daily cases in June last year.
As of Monday, the total tally stood at 581,365 cases of the coronavirus, with 12,896 deaths recorded.
Last week, Pakistan relaxed its time limits for amusement parks and commercial activities and allowed offices to resume work with 50 percent staff capacity.
Meanwhile, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which oversees Pakistan’s coronavirus response, said last week that cinemas and shrines would be allowed to reopen from March 15 as well, as long the anti-coronavirus checks are in place.
“Wearing of mask, social distancing, smart lockdowns will continue and will be ensured,” the NCOC said on Feb. 24.
