COVID-19 Maharashtra: Schools in Mumbai to remain shut till January 31 for classes 1 to 9 and 11

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Amid the rapid surge in the COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, all schools from classes 1 to 9 and Class 11 will be closed till January 31, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a statement on January 3, adding that students of classes 10 and 12 are excluded from this decision which means they can attend schools in person.

Classes for students of 1 to 9 and 11 will continue in online mode, as directed earlier.

Follow all latest updates of the Coronavirus Omicron Variant here

BMC's Chief IS Chahal just a day before on January 2 requested the citizens to not panic and follow the guidelines set by the government to contain the spread of the virus. This was on a day when Mumbai reported 8,063 fresh coronavirus-positive cases.

He further reassured that 89 percent of the cases were found to be totally asymptomatic and that out of 8,063 new cases detected, only 503 were hospitalised out of which 56 cases were put on oxygenated beds.

He appealed to all the home quarantined patients to strictly abide by guidelines to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Mumbai at the earliest.

Earlier this week, on December 30, Section 144 was imposed in the city which will be effective till January 7.  This decision was taken to avoid any overcrowding due to New Year's Eve.

Maharashtra on January 2 reported 11,877 fresh COVID-19 cases, 2,707 more than the day before, and 50 Omicron infections, the state health department said in a bulletin. The state reported nine fatalities, which increased the overall COVID-19 toll to 1,41,542. Maharashtra is now left with 42,024 active cases, the bulletin said.

Of the 50 new Omicron infections, 36 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation areas, eight from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation limits, two each from Pune rural and Sangli, and one each from Mumbai and Thane.