LAHORE: Schools in Punjab will remain open for the time being despite a slight increase in coronavirus cases, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas said on Sunday.
Raas said the Punjab government is paying close attention to cases of coronavirus in provincial schools. He said random tests were being performed and the numbers were slightly higher.
“The situation is being monitored daily. There is no plan to close schools at the moment. Please follow the SOPs,” Twitter said.
First time since July: Pakistan’s COVID-19 figure exceeds 1,000 mark
Coronavirus cases in Pakistan have been ongoing for the past few weeks. On Thursday, the country reported more than 1,000 cases of COVID-19 a day – the highest number since July 29, 2020.
Planning Minister Asad Umar has expressed concern about the positive rate of increase.
Umar said the government’s policy of using SOPs instead of completely shut down had been successful. “Most of the roads in Islamabad have been closed,” he said, adding that the government was looking to take steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
Punjab has installed 491 “micro smart lockdowns” across the province and 431 in Lahore alone while Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani pointed to the closure of schools due to an increase in coronavirus cases.