Amaravati, Oct 29 (IANS): Andhra Pradesh has allowed all government schools and colleges to reopen from November 2 with all precautionary measures amid the Covid pandemic.

Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney confirmed that the state government is going ahead with reopening educational institutions.

The date for reopening schools was already communicated earlier, even as the uncertainty over colleges has also been cleared now.

"Schools would be run on alternate days in three phases for which officials are making arrangements. Precautionary measures would be taken to contain the spread of Covid-19," Sawhney said.

As part of the reopening, classes 9, 10 and intermediate first and second year will function on alternate days for only half a day.

Likewise, all Higher Secondary colleges will also start functioning from November 2 on rotation basis and from November 23, classes 6, 7, and 8 would start functioning on a half day basis.

"Classes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 would start functioning from December 14 on alternate days and on a half-a-day basis. The same schedule would apply to all government schools and colleges," she added.

Though the state government thought of reopening schools almost a month ago, it extended the reopening by a month, to a time when active Covid cases have come down to around 26,000.