Srinagar, Feb 27: As schools in Kashmir Valley are opening from March 2 after a long hiatus, the government on Sunday made wearing masks mandatory for the students coming to the educational institutions.

“Regarding the offline mode of teaching for other classes in all Schools of J&K, the Heads of Institutions shall be responsible for adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour in their respective schools and prepare proper plans for the same,” reads an order by the Jammu and Kashmir State Executive Committee headed by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta. “Symptomatic students should not be allowed to attend school. No student should be allowed to attend School without mask,” the order reads.

All the students coming to attend regular offline classes in the Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics, ITIs, etc. must carry a vaccination certificate with them, order said.

“The Heads of the institutions must ensure that guidelines related to social distancing and Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) are strictly followed including regular screening at the entrance of the Institution,” it said, adding, “They shall also screen any symptomatic student and ensure his/her testing to contain any possibility of spread of the virus in their institutions.:

The SEC also reiterated that all the School students in J&K of Classes 9th to 12th between 15-17 age group must carry a vaccination certificate with them.

“The Heads of Institutions must ensure vaccination is done of every student above 15 years of age in their respective institutions,” it said, adding, “The vaccination adherence shall be ensured through coordination with the Department of Health and Medical Education J&K.”

Every school must ensure full compliance to Covid Appropriate Behaviour and SOPs, it said. “They must also ensure screening and testing of any symptomatic students to contain any possibility of spread of the virus in their Institutions.”

The SEC also ordered that the maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor gathering shall be strictly restricted to 50% of authorised capacity.

“Banquet Halls in all the Districts of J&K are permitted to allow gathering up to 50% of the authorised capacity (with verifiable RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen Test for Covid19 not older than 72 hours), preferably in open spaces,” it said, adding, “Cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes, restaurants, clubs, gymnasiums and swimming pools are permitted to function at 25% of the authorised capacity with due precautions such as CAB and adherence to SOP.” (GNS)