mumbai1-1643019413372
A teacher welcomes a student upon her arrival at a school in Mumbai on January 24, 2022, after schools that were closed as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus were reopened. Image Credit: AFP

Mumbai: Schools in Mumbai on Monday welcomed students of all classes as they reopened with stringent adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

Students were welcomed by teachers at Sadhana Vidyalaya High School, Sion area with enthusiasm.

Principal of the school, Swaroop Sawant said: “We have welcomed students in our school today. We are strictly following the COVID-19 protocols. Social distancing is being maintained and the hands of students are being sanitised.”

mumbai3-1643019420679
Students attend class in a school after they reopened amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Mumbai, India, January 24, 2022. Image Credit: REUTERS

“Classes via virtual mode will also continue,” the principal said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aditya Thackeray has said that parents are free to make their own decisions in this regard and should send their children to school.

Thackeray on Sunday told reporters, “Even though we are re-opening schools from tomorrow, it is not compulsory for students to come to school. Parents are free to make their own decisions in this regard and should send their children to school only if they feel it is safe.”

mumbai2a-1643019416720
Students attend class in a school after they reopened amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Mumbai, India, January 24, 2022. Image Credit: REUTERS

The schools in Mumbai have been closed since January 4.

Maharashtra on Sunday reported 40,805 new COVID-19 cases taking the total tally of infections to 7,507,225. As many as 44 fatalities from this virus were logged in the last 24 hours, the state health department said. Of the fresh cases in the state, Mumbai logged 2,550 new COVID-19 cases. On January 16, Mumbai reported 7,895 new cases.