The school education department has issued a fresh order, clarifying that teachers are entitled to quarantine leave in case they test positive.

The department had earlier this month issued an order to announce the introduction of quarantine leave days after shutting campuses following a surge of cases.

The January 5 order said quarantine leave is a leave of absence from duty necessitated by order not to attend office “in consequence of the presence of infectious disease in the family or household of such employees” at his or her place of duty, residence or sojourn.

But it did not mention whether the teachers could avail quarantine leave in case they themselves tested positive.

“The heads of institutions were denying teachers quarantine leave in absence of the clarity and asking them to take medical leave,” said Saudipta Das, the general secretary of the collegium of assistant headmasters and assistant headmistresses.

Saturday’s order signed by a joint secretary says: “Whereas some confusions have been created over the issue of grant of quarantine leave to the teacher/non-teaching staff who himself/herself is suffering from such infections disease including Covid-19….In view of the above, it is clarified the teacher/non-teaching staff on account of suffering by himself/ herself or other members of the family from the infectious disease including Covid-19, may avail quarantine leave.”

An official of the department said: “There are instances of teachers getting infected multiple times. If they are asked to take medical leaves each time, then those leave would be exhausted.”

“A fresh order was issued on Saturday to settle the contentious point.”