How wide will be the circle of quarantine if a student or a staff member tests positive for Covid-19? What if a family member of a student or a teacher gets infected?

These are some of the questions schools are grappling with as they plan to reopen their campuses for senior students.

The state government has allowed reopening of schools, closed since March last year as a precaution against Covid, for students of Classes IX to XII.

The apprehensions being voiced at staff meetings being held at schools in the run-up to the reopening are not far fetched, the heads of two schools said. “They might be real and could lead to tricky situations,” a school head said.

Parents are concerned, too, because they have to give consent if their children go to school.

While some schools are deliberating suspending classes if a student or a staff member tests positive, most have no definite answers or solutions.

“We cannot anticipate every situation. Once something comes up, we will have to make an informed decision based on medical advice,” said Ian Myers, the principal of Frank Anthony Public School, which has decided to call students in shifts.

“We have to keep safe and emphasise on the positives rather than the negatives.”

Terence Ireland, the principal of St James’ School, described the situation as tricky. “It becomes a real issue (if someone tests positive) because the classroom gets disrupted in such a situation. We will have to be very alert and the vigil has to be strong at the gate only,” he said.

Several schools feel monitoring would not be a problem because fewer students would turn up for now.

Father Bikash Mondal, the principal of Don Bosco Park Circus, said if a student tested positive, they might have to bar the boys who came in contact with him from attending classes for a few days.

Some schools are reopening on Friday, others after a few more days.

Many schools are eager to reopen because they wanted to bring in students for practicals and rehearsal tests before the board examinations.

“There are things we have no control over…. We take precautions to ensure that nobody falls sick and if anyone has symptoms, they will be expected to stay at home,” said Seema Sapru, the principal of The Heritage School.

At many schools, teachers, especially those who have elderly people or children at home, have expressed fears about their safety.

“We are doing our best but nobody can guarantee. The dip in numbers is giving everyone the confidence and the situation demands a greater degree of awareness and responsibility from everybody to avoid any serious setback,” said Amita Prasad, the director of Indus Valley World School.