ISLAMABAD: Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood has announced that an important meeting will be held on Monday between education ministers to discuss the latest COVID-19 situation in the country.
On a social media website Twitter, the minister said, “We have convened an important meeting of provincial education ministers on Monday at 11 am to discuss the latest coronavirus situation in the country. As stated before the health of students is our top one priority,” he added.
We have convened an important meeting of provincial education ministers on Monday at 11 am to discuss the latest coronavirus situation in the country. As stated before health of students is our no one priority
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) November 14, 2020
The announcement also comes in the backdrop of a recommendation by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) for “early and extended winter vacations” due to the rising positivity ratio of covid-19 being reported from educational institutes.
The apex body tasked with handling the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic had announced earlier that Mahmood will chair a special session with provincial education ministers on November 16 where the recommendation will be put forward.
It also said that the meeting of the ministers will also “assess and review the positivity ratio prevailing in educational institutions”.
The NCOC decided to put forward the recommendation after Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar chaired a session of the body that reviewed the “epidemic curve data and disease prevalence in the country including education sector”.
According to a statement, the NCOC was informed about the “increasing positivity ratio in educational institutions” and the need to stop the trend. The body also shared that it will share with the provinces its recommendations, after “consultative discussions”, for “consequent decision and enforcement”.
“The forum, taking into account rising positivity ratio, suggested for an early and extended winter vacation to reduce the impact of disease spread and ensure safety and health of students,” said the NCOC statement.
The number of coronavirus cases has been rising steadily as the nation reported the highest number of cases since mid-July
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 2,165 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 more deaths were recorded across the country during the last 24 hours. The total number of recorded cases has reached 354, 46.
The total death toll has reached up to 7,109 in Pakistan, whereas 1316 people are said to be in a critical condition suffering the disease.
The number of active cases of COVID-19 reached up to 24,938. During the past 24 hours, over 34,535 tests have been conducted out of which 2,165 were positive.
Sindh has been the worst affected province and recorded 153,873 COVID-19. In the statement by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Sindh recorded 822 cases and lost four people to the coronavirus on Friday. Out of the new cases recorded, 621 were from Karachi.
