The COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee has recommended not to reopen schools in Karnataka in December, ahead of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's key meeting on Monday to take a call on the matter. However, the State government is yet to take a call on this matter. The schools in the State have remained shut since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 situation shall be reviewed in the last week of December to mull the reopening of schools at a suitable time subsequently.  It adds that this recommendation was for the consideration of the government in the larger public interest of the state. The schools have remained closed since March when the national lockdown was first enforced to combat COVID-19.

The proceedings of the meeting, headed by Chairman Dr. M K Sudarshan, said, the current scenario of COVID-19 in the state was showing a declining trend with around 1,700 cases and 20 deaths reported daily. It was significant to consolidate gains made after great efforts in the last eight months to contain the disease in the state, the panel said, pointing to the spike or resurgence of cases in Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and others.

In addition, the months of December and January due to winter are cold and conducive to the occurrence and spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, it said, adding that the epidemiological perspective based on a state survey done in September is that there may be a spike in cases in the districts with low prevalence.

The state government's major decision to open schools from Monday.

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