Reopen schools or disaster looms, experts tell Indian authorities

New Delhi: Many top Indian epidemiolgists and social scientists are urging authorities to reopen in-person school classes for all age groups, saying the benefits outweigh the risks especially as poor rural children are missing out on online education.

The recommendation comes as experts say another COVID-19 wave in India this year could be far less deadly, because a dramatic rise in cases in April and May means a big majority of the population have been infected already, while more than half of its adults have been at least partly vaccinated. India last month approved its first COVID-19 shot for people under 18, though as of now only adults are being immunised.