No new COVID-19 case, 35 reports awaited
Coaching centers shut in Jammu, Baramulla
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 11: In view of Coronavirus threat, Jammu and Kashmir Government today ordered the closure of all educational institutions including Colleges and Universities till March 31 while board exams and entrance examinations will be held as per schedule.
Simultaneously, the Ladakh administration has also closed all Colleges and the University in the UT till March 31.
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“All education institutions (Public and private) including schools, Colleges and Universities of J&K UT will suspend teaching and classes work till March 31,” Bhupinder Kumar, Director, National Health Mission told reporters here this evening.
Kumar said that board and competitive examination will be conducted as per their schedule while the public is advised to maintain social distance and avoid unnecessary travel and use of public transport.
“Social, political and religious organizations are urged to avoid large gathering and functions” he added.
He said situation is fast evolving; however, it is being reviewed and monitored very closely. He further said that 1211 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under active surveillance, 150 of these have completed surveillance period of 28 days and 12 are under hospital quarantine.
“As many as 64 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far, 28 have reported negative and of earlier two cases, who were reported with high viral load, one has tested positive. Another one is being retested while 35 reports are awaited,” he added.
Kumar also said that one more person has reported with high viral load and samples have been sent to NCDC New Delhi for confirmation and added, “As Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) has no definite treatment so prevention is the best, every person can contribute, to protect themselves, to protect others, whether in the home, the community, the healthcare system, the workplace or the transport system.”
The Government urged all social, religious and political organizations to avoid large gatherings, he said and added, “We are grateful that many organizations have responded to our advice and deferred such gatherings”.
Earlier in the day, Government also announced closure of Cinema Halls across Jammu region. Cinema Halls in all 10 districts of Jammu province will remain closed till March 31,” Principal Secretary, Information, Rohit Kansal tweeted.
Kansal said all coaching centers in Jammu district will remain closed till March 31. Private coaching centers will also remain closed in Baramulla till March 31.
The Jammu University has ordered that teaching work will remain suspended till 31st March. The CBCS (Minor examinations), course work examinations of M.Phil & Ph.D have also been postponed till March 31.
Further, the Reading halls of the Central Library will also remain closed.
“The University has also decided not to hold regular meetings in the Campus. All the examinations already notified by the university upto March 31 willbe held as per schedule,” an official handout said.
However, the offices of the University of Jammu will remain functional as usual.
Meanwhile, the Ladakh administration has closed all Colleges and the University in the Union Territory from today until March 31 as a precautionary measure in consideration of the Coronavirus outbreak.
“In view of the prevailing circumstances and as a precautionary measure for containment of COVID-19, all the Colleges and the University of Ladakh shall remain closed till March 31,” Commissioner-Secretary Higher Education, UT Ladakh, Rigzian Sampheal said in an order.
Schools in the entire Union Territory of Ladakh were shut by the administration last week.
A 76-year-old man, Mohmmad Ali, who recently returned to the UT from Iran and died at SNM hospital in Leh has tested negative for COVID-19, Sampheal said.
He said 27 samples have been sent for testing out of which results for 11 have been received and two have tested positive.
The UT’s Chushot Gongma area, with people who had returned after a pilgrimage in Iran, has been cordoned off under the containment policy to control the pandemic and all essential supplies are being provided to the villagers by the administration, he said.
As many as 18,000 people have been screened at the Leh airport till date, he added. (PTI)
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