Coronavirus: Schools upto primary level closed in four Kashmir districts

As a precautionary measure amid growing threat of coronavirus, authorities have ordered the closure of schools in four districts of Kashmir Valley.

DivisionalCommissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan said that the classwork in all private and government schools upto primary level have been ordered to be closed immediately in four districts including Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla and Bandipora till further orders.

The step has been taken as a precautionary measure, Khan said.

Earlier, the authorities ordered the closure of primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts and also suspended the biometric attendance in view of the reports about two patients suggesting high probability of testing positive for COVID-19.

“Test reports of the two suspected patients from Jammu have been received. Both high viral load cases. There is high probability of testing positive,” Principal Secretary, Planning and Monitoring and Information Rohit Kansal had told GNS.

Kansal, who is also the government spokesman, had said that schools have been closed as a part of precautionary measure as all protocols are being followed by the administration.

Meanwhile, a senior officer of the administration told GNS that the biometric attendance has been suspended till end of this month. The step follows concerns by many over the use of biometric attendance.

According to administration, 230 people who had travel history to countries where there is high prevalence of COVID-19. Many test reports have been taken and none of them tested positive in Kashmir so far. Five people been kept in isolation at SKIMS Soura.

The government has said it was in the state of alertness to deal with any threat emerging due to coronavirus. On Wednesday the government announced the COVID-19 control efforts and as part of it, the administration made Bhupinder Kumar (IAS), Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), as Overall Incharge of the coronovirus control efforts at the Union Territory Level.

Kumar has been asked to work under the supervision of Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education Department, J&K.

“Dr. Shafqat Khan, designated Nodal Officer, shall work under the supervision of Overall Incharge Corona Virus control efforts (Mission Director, NHM),” reads an order issued in this regard by the government.

At the Divisional Level, respective Divisional Commissioners shall be the overall incharge of Corona virus control efforts who shall be assisted by the respective Directors of Health Services.

At the District Level, the order said, Deputy Commissioners shall be the Incharge of Corona virus control efforts to be assisted by the respective Chief Medical Officers.

For the Control of Corona Virus, the Apex, Divisional and District Level Officers have been ensure detection at the Airports, Railway Stations and other entry points; Create adequate quarantine, isolation and other requisite facilities and take adequate measures for surveillance of home quarantined persons. They have been asked to take all other measures required for effective control of corona virus.

So far no positive case has been found in the Union Territory and according to Rohit Kansal, the situation is being closely monitored.

“UT of J&K is in a state of alert. The surveillance for this virus has been increased ever since the first advisory was issued by the Government of India on 2nd February 2020,” Kansal said addressing reporters in Jammu on Tuesday.