Though the state education department has announced reopening of schools from January 24, schools in Pune district will remain closed for another week, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Saturday.
Pawar said though he was in favor of reopening the schools at the beginning of the Covid review meeting, when he and other public representatives were apprised about it. COVID-19 In view of the situation in the district, it was unanimously decided to reopen for one more week.
“My opinion was that schools should be reopened. However, after the presentation about the status of the district was made by (Divisional Commissioner) Saurabh Rao, the mayors of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad and the president of the Pune Zilla Parishad said that we need another week before the schools reopen. Must wait. , It was also said that the pinnacle of Pune is yet to come. The fact that there are some holidays next week was also considered,” Pawar said.
The Maharashtra government had on January 8 ordered closure of schools in view of the increasing number of Kovid-19 cases in the state. omicron Type. The government had ordered the closure of the school till February 15.
But last week, School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad announced that schools in the state would reopen for students of classes 1 to 12 from January 24.
Pawar also said that though the government has not made it mandatory for local residents to take the Covid-19 vaccine, it is trying its best to ensure that everyone takes it.
“We are pushing for 100 per cent vaccination because although people have the freedom to make decisions, those who do not take it endanger not only their own health but also the health of others. So it is not a matter of personal well-being. Rather it is a matter of well being of a family and community,” Pawar said.
He said that he has directed the Divisional Commissioner (Pune) Saurabh Rao to expand the ‘Covid Mukt Village’ competition started by the Pune Zilla Parishad to other districts of Pune division.
“There are 44 gram panchayats in Pune district, where not a single Covid-19 case has been reported. Of these, 17 villages are in Bhor tehsil alone. I have directed Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao to take steps to extend this competition – under which villages performing well on various parameters are awarded with cash value – to other districts as well,” Pawar said. .
On Saturday, Pune district reported 16,362 new cases, of which a majority – 8,246 (50.4%) – were from PMC areas. 4,875 (29.8%) cases were reported from PCMC, 2,504 from Pune Rural, 550 in councils and 187 in cantonment areas.
The case count on Saturday, while still high, was marginally lower than the 16,618 new cases reported on Friday, the highest single-day increase in cases since the start of the pandemic.
According to the data released by the health department of Pune Zilla Parishad, 15 people have died due to infection in the district, 9 in PMC areas, while three each in PCMC and Pune rural areas.
The number of active cases in the district is 89,673. Pune district has recorded 13,29,378 COVID cases since the start of the pandemic.
Pune district administration has given 1.59 crore vaccine doses so far. 51 percent children in the age group of 15-18 years have been fully immunized.
Pawar directed the officials to allow only fully vaccinated tourists to the Bhimashankar temple and said a similar decision would be taken for the Lenyadri caves. Pawar said that hawkers and stall owners at tourist places should be allowed to carry on their business.
“The tourist places are now open but we will keep a close watch and take an appropriate decision if social distancing Rules are not followed,” he said.
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