123 Kolkata: Several city schools have advised students to wear full-sleeve shirts and long pants a little early this time due to the dip in mercury and the spread of viral infections. This year, the temperature started dipping a little early compared to previous years, prompting several schools to introduce the winter school uniform.
At least two schools have issued written advisories on precautionary measures against the winter chill and viral infections. Several other schools are verbally communicating the advisory to kids and their parents. Many of these schools are repeatedly telling parents not to send their wards if they are unwell to check spread of infections.
South City School principal, Satabdi Bhattacharjee, said, "We sent a notice to the children to start wearing winter dresses as the temperature is dipping now. We also advised primary students to protect themselves from mosquito bites by applying mosquito repellents." St Augustine's Day School, Shyamnagar principal, Rodney Borneo, said they had recieved a number of applications from parents stating their wards were suffering from seasonal flu, with major symptoms being fever and body ache.
"So we asked parents to exercise extra caution to keep their children safe and asked them not to send their ailing kids to school," Borneo added. Similar advise was communicated to parents of Shri Shikshayatan School students, who were suffering from fever as part of school's policy and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). "If we find the students are unwell, we send them back," said principal, Sangeeta Tandan.
BDM International School issued an advisory for students to wear full-sleeve shirts. The school has also asked the students to avoid playing outside on the playground, particularly during the evening hours. Students have also been asked to wear masks in case of cold."The advisory was issued keeping in mind the rising cases of dengue and chikungunya and other fevers. The frequency of pest control and sanitisation of the school premises has been increased. During the school assembly, students are informed about the precautionary measures they can avail themselves," principal Madhumita Sengupta, said. Similar advisories have also been issued by some state-run schools, in the view of upcoming exams. "We told students to cover their hands and legs to avoid mosquito bites," said Jadavpur Vidyapith headmaster, Partha Pratim Baidya.