He also said that the state government has not reopened educational institutions in a “hasty” but in a phased manner after discussions with parents and experts.
Sudhakar told reporters here after meeting Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya that first higher education institutions were reopened, then pre-universities and later classes 9-12 and classes 6-8. “We will take a decision soon after the festive season,” he said. Let the Dussehra holiday end.
Sudhakar said a final decision would be taken after consultations and the cabinet decision.
When asked about the closure of a school in Bengaluru after children tested Covid-19 positive, he said the government is aware of it. But that one event cannot determine whether to reopen schools for classes 1-5, Sudhakar said.
“That school is now closed and many children are in isolation. Two children had symptoms and are not in a critical condition. We are monitoring every school in the state,” he said.
It has been more than a month that schools for classes 6-8 have been reopened in the state and “we have not received any reports of concern from schools so far”, he said. “We had to reopen schools for classes 1-5 because medically speaking immunity is highest among children up to 12 years of age,” Sudharkar said.
Since the children are small and keeping in mind the concern of the parents, the government has focused on reopening educational institutions in a phased manner, he said.
On the reopening of educational institutions, Sudhakar said, “We did not take decisions in haste. Even now, if we see that children are facing trouble, we will immediately withdraw our decision.
The Karnataka minister mentioned that the first dose has been given to more than 80 per cent of the total eligible population of 4.98 crore in the state, while the second dose has so far been given to 37 per cent.
In September, the state gave the highest one-month vaccine dose of 1.48 crore, he said.
“At the same pace, we will cover the entire eligible population by the end of December 31,” he said.
Sudhakar, however, said that “10-15 per cent of the population in the state has yet to take a single dose”, and that the government is planning an outreach program to create awareness.
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