Admn Secys/HoDs asked to adopt virtual mode for meetings
3 die in Jammu, Admn Secy, 35 in DC office test +ve
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR/LEH, Jan 9: As COVID cases surged in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government tonight ordered that all colleges, schools, coaching centres etc will adopt Online mode of teaching and Administrative Secretaries/ Head of Departments (HoDs) will ensure optimal use of virtual mode for official meetings.
“All colleges, schools, Polytechnics, ITIs, coaching centres for civil services/engineering/NEET etc will adopt Online medium of teaching. There shall be no in-person teaching,” an official order issued tonight by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta in his capacity as the Chairperson State Executive Committee (SEC), said.
The Government, however, permitted educational institutions for direct attendance of vaccinated staff for administrative purposes only.
“Maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor/outdoor gathering shall be strictly restricted to 25. Night curfew will remain in force in all districts from 9 pm to 6 am with complete restriction on non-essential movement,” the order read.
It said all Government departments/offices shall minimize conducting in-person meetings/interaction etc.
“All Administrative Secretaries/HoDs of departments/institutions shall ensure optimal use of virtual mode for conducting official meetings etc,” the order said.
Meanwhile, Two women were among three persons who succumbed to COVID-19 today while 437 fresh cases were reported in Jammu division, 250 in Kashmir and 59 in Leh district in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
An Administrative Secretary in the Civil Secretariat has tested positive for COVID-19.
As many as 35 persons, mostly employees, in the Deputy Commissioner Jammu’s office have also been found infected. A total of 167 persons were tested in the DC office.
Thirteen pilgrims of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine, eight persons in the District Hospital Reasi, seven Railway workers at Chenani and six at ITI Udhampur have also tested positive for the virus.
All three COVID deaths in the Jammu region occurred at homes.
An 85-year-old partially vaccinated woman hailing from Sector 6 Nanak Nagar and 75-year-old fully vaccinated man from Pandoka Colony Paloura in Jammu district succumbed to the virus while 70-year-old woman, who was unvaccinated, and hailed from Galhutta in Poonch district also died of COVID.
Three casualties have taken Corona toll in Jammu region to 2206 including 1162 in Jammu district, 240 Rajouri, 153 Kathua, 139 Udhampur, 137 Doda, 120 Samba, 101 Poonch, 67 Ramban, 44 Kishtwar and 43 in Reasi district.
Among 437 cases in Jammu region, 292 were reported in Jammu district alone followed by 38 in Kathua, 26 Reasi, 25 Ramban, 16 Samba, 12 each in Rajouri and Doda, eight Poonch, seven Udhampur and one in Kishtwar district.
With 52 recoveries, number of active positive cases in Jammu region has reached 2032.
The Union Territory of Ladakh today reported 59 fresh COVID positive cases, all in Leh district.
Ladakh now has 281 active positive cases including 244 in Leh and 37 in Kargil.
Corona count in Ladakh has gone up to 22472. Among them, 21970 have recovered from the virus while there have been 221 casualties—163 in Leh and 58 in Kargil.
Meanwhile, Kashmir today reported 250 fresh cases of COVID-19-19.
Those who tested positive today include 131 from Srinagar, Baramulla 42, Budgam 50, Pulwama 10, Kupwara 2, Anantnag 3, Bandipora 4, Ganderbal 5 and Kulgam 3.
In the last 24 hours, 135 patients including 83 from Kashmir recovered. So far, 336581 patients have recovered, leaving an active case tally at 3531 including 1499 in Kashmir.
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