The authorities have issued new directives to schools in Lahore in view of the steep rise in the number of coronavirus infections amid Omicron-triggered new wave, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to the new guidelines released on Saturday, if a teacher or a student of any school tests coronavirus positive then the teacher or the student should be sent on seven-day leave.

If two cases are diagnosed then the concerned classroom will be sealed for seven days relevant.

And, if three cases are traced then the related school will be shut down for one week.

The schools which would be closed down due to coronavirus cases could be reopened after seven days following undergoing disinfection.

In a related development, Lahore’s Model Town Society has announced that teachers and students of all the schools located within the society’s limits have undergone coronavirus tests.

Also on Friday, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had announced that all schools situated in areas with a high COVID-19 positivity ratio will remain closed for one week across the country.

According to a notification issued in this regard, the NCOC said: "Education institutions, premises, sections, specific classes with high positivity to be closed for ONE week."

The notification further added that provincial administration in consultation with district health, education authorities, and school administrations are to set a threshold of cases for deciding such closures.

The NCOC added that COVID testing in education institutes was carried out in major Omicron hit cities to ascertain disease spread among students and ensure accurate disease mapping.

Therefore, keeping in view the results, the NCOC has taken the following decisions:

Aggressive testing in education institutes for next two weeks especially in high disease prevalence cities.

Federating units to carry out special vaccination drives in schools to ensure 100% vaccination of students over 12 years of age.

Reporter Junaid Riaz