A total of 84 schools in Uttarakhand have been closed for five days after 80 of its teachers tested positive for coronavirus.

While schools in the state were reopened on November 2, the teachers who are working in schools of Khirsu, Pauri, Kot, Pabo and Kaljikhal blocks of Pauri district, detected positive for COVID-19 on Thursday (November 5).

According to State Health Secretary Amit Negi as reported by ANI, the District Magistrates of all the 13 districts of the state have been instructed to get COVID-19 test done for the teachers posted in schools. He added that Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) were also issued by the Education Department in this regard.

Negi further stressed that the surge in COVID cases in the state is evident and warned that it may spread more during the winter season. He also urged people to follow COVID-19 protocols in the festive season.