Dr Mukherjee made the appeal following a high-level meeting at the state health department headquarters, Swasthya Bhavan.
Health minister urges schools to modify dress rules
Acknowledging that it would be difficult to contain dengue cases entirely within a short period, the minister said ensuring that children's arms and legs remain covered during the peak transmission period could serve as an immediate preventive measure.
Speaking to the media, Dr Mukherjee said, “With folded hands, I request teachers and principals to allow girl students to wear full-sleeved dresses for these three months. Irrespective of the school uniform, please allow girl students to skip skirts and wear salwars that cover their legs completely.
“Knee-length socks will not be enough, as they remain close to the skin and are too thin to prevent mosquito bites. So, I kindly request schools to allow girl students to wear salwars and boys to wear full-sleeved shirts and pants during these three months,” he added.
Temporary attire guidelines likely
According to a report by India Today, the state government is expected to issue an administrative circular containing temporary attire guidelines for schools.
The proposed instructions are expected to apply to both government-run and private schools, with private institutions also being requested to follow the temporary measures as a precaution against dengue.
The move comes as the state health department steps up preventive measures during the peak dengue transmission period.