Due to an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath increased the duration of the order that ordered school authorities to keep the schools closed from Class 1 to Class 8. According to the order, the new date is now April 1.

The state government had previously ordered the closing of schools for students up to Class 8 until March 31 due to an increase in COVID-19 infections. The revised order was issued after a late-night meeting on Tuesday presided over by the chief minister.

In order to tackle the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in the state, the chief minister has also advised concerned officials to raise the number of tests performed and also to look for other preventive measures that can be taken.

In the last 24 hours, the state reported 918 new cases and 10 deaths. Lucknow, the state capital, topped the list, with over 446 new cases recorded in just 24 hours.

“On their due date, government workers who are getting the Covid-19 vaccine must be given a day off. Similarly, similar provisions must be made for workers in the private sector “In a tweet, the chief minister said.

The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the decrease in the number of tests performed in the state and requested that COVID-19 recommendations and containment plans be strictly pursued.

In the last 24 hours, the state performed over 67,000 COVID-19 examinations. Following the reading of the figures, the chief minister instructed that over 1.5 lakh tests be performed every day. The UP Chief Minister has ordered officials to launch public awareness campaigns for the state’s people.

Meanwhile, 10 new deaths in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday raised the state’s death toll to 8,800, while 918 new cases brought the overall number of infections in the state to 6,15,996.