Haryana closes colleges, varsities till March 31; schools in 5 dists shut
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES Students to attend schools only to take board and annual exams
CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Friday ordered the closure of all government and private universities, colleges and industrial training institutes in the state till March 31 as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Director general, higher education, issued an advisory to all government, government-aided and private universities and colleges, saying that the step has been taken as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, an advisory of the school education department said that in light of the surge in cases of Covid-19, it has been decided that all government and private schools in Sonepat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Faridabad and Gurugram will remain closed till March 31 with immediate effect, except for holding exams.
“The students will attend school only to take board exams, annual exams and assessments as scheduled. However, all teaching and non-teaching staff will attend school as usual. The schools in the remaining districts of Haryana shall function as usual,” the order issued on behalf of principal secretary, school education, Mahavir Singh said.
Skill development and industrial training department principal secretary Vijayendra Kumar also issued an order for closure of all government and private industrial training institutes as well as institutes for training of trainers till March 31.
The order, however, said trainees will attend the institutes only for examinations, as per schedule, while the teaching and nonteaching staff will attend institutes as usual. The order further said during examinations, students must avoid crowded places, shaking hands, maintain distance from infected persons and take all precautions such washing hands. The orders also mandated that the building floors be regularly disinfected.
BAN ON GATHERINGS
Haryana health minister Anil Vij has ordered a ban on all gatherings of people, including political rallies, religious congregations and sports events till further orders in the wake of Covid-19.
Stating that the order will be reviewed every three days, Vij said people violating the ban will be penalised under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897.
6 SAMPLE REPORTS AWAITED
Of the 1,956 people kept under observation, 1,928 people with a travel history to affected countries have been found asymptomatic. The remaining 28 people were admitted in hospitals at Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Hisar, Kaithal, Karnal, Jhajjar, Palwal, Panchkula, Rohtak and Sirsa, of which 24 people have been discharged while two persons are admitted in Gurugram and one each in Charkhi Dadri and Sirsa. An official communication of the health department said so far 47 samples had been sent, of which 41 had been found negative while reports of six samples are awaited, four of which are from Gurugram and one each from Charkhi Dadri and Sirsa.
RAILWAYS TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Ambala division of Northern Railways has arranged 150 quarantinebeds at A mb ala,Ja ga dh ari workshop, Kalka and Dharampur in HP.
Chief medical superintendent Dr Chhattar Singh said the railway medical staff had received training to handle a Covid-19 outbreak. Singh said all hospitals under the division had been provided with the necessary equipment, masks and disinfectants.
Divisional railway manager GM Singh said, “We have nominated a team of doctors and paramedical staff and have cancelled biometric attendance till March 31, 2020. One can reach authorities on mobile number 9729539520, department of telecommunications number 0171-2610093, and railways number 102, 23545, 23507