<p>Schools and places of worship in Maharashtra are set to open from the first week of October as Covid-19 cases in the state fell below the 40,000-level mark.</p>.<p>After a series of review meetings with the Covid-19 task forces, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took a final call on the two critical areas. </p>.<p>“The places of worship would open from October 7 coinciding with the Navratri festivities,” Thackeray said.</p>.<p>However, he made it clear that the Covid-appropriate-behaviour and protocol msut be followed. </p>.<p>According to state education minister Varsha Gaikwad, physical classes will resume from October 4 for students of classes 5-12 in rural areas, while for urban areas, physical classes will resume only for students of standards 8-12. The physical classes are resuming after an unprecedented break of 18 months when schools were shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a series of lockdowns. </p>.<p><strong>Also Read | </strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/schools-across-maharashtra-to-reopen-from-october-4-1033841.html" target="_blank"><strong>Schools across Maharashtra to reopen from October 4</strong></a></p>.<p>Prof Gaikwad said that schools will be permitted to reopen only with strict adherence to all Covid-19 protocols and SOPs prepared by the education department in consultation with the Covid Pediatric Task Force.</p>.<p>However, residential or boarding schools across the state will remain shut till further orders, she added. Besides, activities like sports and games — where social distancing is not possible — shall be banned for now. Only classroom-related teaching activities shall be permitted, she said.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>Schools and places of worship in Maharashtra are set to open from the first week of October as Covid-19 cases in the state fell below the 40,000-level mark.</p>.<p>After a series of review meetings with the Covid-19 task forces, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took a final call on the two critical areas. </p>.<p>“The places of worship would open from October 7 coinciding with the Navratri festivities,” Thackeray said.</p>.<p>However, he made it clear that the Covid-appropriate-behaviour and protocol msut be followed. </p>.<p>According to state education minister Varsha Gaikwad, physical classes will resume from October 4 for students of classes 5-12 in rural areas, while for urban areas, physical classes will resume only for students of standards 8-12. The physical classes are resuming after an unprecedented break of 18 months when schools were shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a series of lockdowns. </p>.<p><strong>Also Read | </strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/schools-across-maharashtra-to-reopen-from-october-4-1033841.html" target="_blank"><strong>Schools across Maharashtra to reopen from October 4</strong></a></p>.<p>Prof Gaikwad said that schools will be permitted to reopen only with strict adherence to all Covid-19 protocols and SOPs prepared by the education department in consultation with the Covid Pediatric Task Force.</p>.<p>However, residential or boarding schools across the state will remain shut till further orders, she added. Besides, activities like sports and games — where social distancing is not possible — shall be banned for now. Only classroom-related teaching activities shall be permitted, she said.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
