Universities, colleges, and other higher educational institutions in Maharashtra will remain shit till February 15 (Tuesday) amid a rapid spike in the COVID-19 cases and a looming scare of Omicron - a variant of coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2.
With this, the universities and colleges in the State will be switching to online cases to facilitate students' education without any interruption, according to the Uday Samant, Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister.
Closure Of Schools: States Shut Schools, Colleges Amid Spike In COVID Cases, Looming Omicron Scare
Maharashtra Colleges Universities Closed Till February 15
Addressing the media, Uday Samant said, "Amid rising COVID cases, Maharashtra govt to discontinue physical classes in colleges, universities till February 15. All exams in the said institutions to be conducted online till February 15," as reported by ANI.
Amid rising COVID cases, Maharashtra govt to discontinue physical classes in colleges,universities till February 15. All exams in the said instituitions to be conducted online till February 15: Maharashtra Higher & Technical Education Minister Uday Samant
— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2022
(file pic) pic.twitter.com/dSrygfqqsE
Maharashtra has reported 18,466 fresh COVID-19 cases with 20 deaths, according to official sources. Given this, Maharashtra's total tally on COVID-19 stands at 67,30,494 with a death toll of 1,41,573.
Mumbai And Pune Schools Closed
With Mumbai facing 15,000 COVID cases, 80% of which related to Omicron, the BMC has announced the closure of schools from Class 1 to Class 9 and Class 11 till the end of this month i.e. January 31 while Pune has schools closed for Classes 1 to 8 till January 30.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has reported 58,097 fresh COVID-19 cases and 534 deaths in the last 24 hours culminating on the morning of January 5 (Wednesday), with active cases standing at 2,14,004 and 2,135 cases of Omicron being reported.
Given the sudden and rapid surge in coronavirus cases and the spread of the COVID Omicron variant, State governments across the country have announced the closure of schools, colleges, and academic institutions to contain the spread of COVID-pandemic.