Navi Mumbai: School teachers to undergo RT-PCR tests

Navi Mumbai: After the state government’s announcement that schools can be reopened from Monday for Classes IX to XII, teachers and non-teaching staff of all city schools, including civic, will undergo RT-PCR tests in the Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) area before the reopening. However, teachers from private and unaided schools will have to bear the cost of the test.

PCMC commissioner Sudhakar Deshmukh, on Thursday, issued a circular, asking all teaching and non-teaching staff of all schools to undergo the test only at an ICMR approved lab. Meanwhile, testing of PCMC and Raigad zilla parishad school staff will be conducted at the sub-district hospital in Panvel. At some places, rapid antigen tests will be conducted.

President of the municipal teacher union Pramod Langi said, “Schools in the PCMC and RZP area are only up to Class VII. So, teacher won’t have to undergo the test. However, private schools have started conducting RT-PCR tests for their staffers.”

Meanwhile, the NMMC has started conducting RT-PCR tests for all its teachers for free since Thursday. The NMMC has asked schools to provide sanitisers, infrared thermometers and oximeters.

“The NMMC has organised a camp from Thursday to carry out test for all civic-run school teachers. The tests are being carried out to ensure safety of students,” said deputy municipal commissioner Yogesh Kaduskar. The civic bodies will conduct sanitisation and provide other assistances to schools.