Corona: Schools, colleges, theatres shut till March 30
SUSPECTS Two foreigners showing symptoms of virus kept in isolation in Jaisalmer, Jodhpur
JAIPUR: In view of the coronavirus pandemic, the Rajasthan government has ordered closure of schools, colleges, theatres till March 30.
However the ongoing Board exams will continue as scheduled. The decision will also not affect medical and nursing colleges.
Meanwhile, t wo f orei gn nationals showing symptoms of coronavirus were kept in isolation in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur on Saturday, medical officials said.
I n J o d hpur, a J a p a ne s e woman with suspected coronavirus symptoms was admitted to MDM Hospital on Saturday.
The Japanese woman arrived i n Jodhpur on an Air I ndia f l i ght, where s he was s e nt directly to the hospital after having cold and cough at the initial screening at the airport. The woman is admitted to the isolation ward of MDM Hospital.
In Jaisalmer, a Slovenian national was admitted to the government hospital aft er showing symptoms of the virus.
The 37-year old Slovenian national was in Jaisalmer since a week . She complained of cold and cough last night and was admitted to the government hospital in Jaisalmer on Saturday. Her sample was sent to Jodhpur on Saturday.
The government order came after chief minister Ashok Gehlot chaired a review meeting with officials at his residence late on Friday on the status of coronavirus in the state.
Gehlot s ai d t he decisi on was t a k e n a f t e r a c e n t r a l government advisory to this effect.
In a late night order, the state government said all government and private schools, colleges, coaching centres, movie t heatres and gymnasiums would be shut till March 30. The government also advised that marriages be low-key affairs without a large gathering.
During the lockdown, all music and cultural programmes and staging of plays will remain suspended.
The government order has also put madrasas on list of institutions shut.
Gehlot asked people not to panic but asked them to be vigilant. “I appeal to the people to restrict moving in crowded areas and use public transport only if necessary,” he said.
He said the state government took the severe decision for a lockdown after the central government advisory and the WHO and UN declaring coronavirus a pandemic.
The CM asked officials to undertake widespread publicity campaigns and issue advisories regularly.
Rohit Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary, health, apprised the measures taken by the health department to fight coronavirus.
He said so far 370 people have been tested for the virus so far and only three have tested positive. He said three lakh people have been screened for the virus in the state.
Si ngh s a i d t he s t a t e has adopted the standard operating procedures handed out by the centre.
Patients will be divided into three categories based on travel to China, Democratic Republic of Korea, Italy, France, Germany Spain and Iran.
Category A are high risk passengers who have cold, cough shortness of breath and a histoyof travel to these countries 14 days prior to symptoms.
These patients will be segregated from other patients and kept in isolation.
Category B is moderate risk patients who are asymptomatic and travelled to the above-mentioned countries. Elderly, above 60 years and those who have high blood pressure or diabetes are also covered.
These patients would be shifted to quarantine facilities and will be monitored for 14 days.
Category C comprises asymptomatic patients coming from any Covid-19 affected c ountries.
These patients will be quarantined at home and monitored by health officials, he said.
The civic bodies have been asked to identify buildings that can be used if the situation worsens.
The c oronavirus s pread could also impact the Rajasthan Diwas or Foundation Day celebrations. The four-day celebrations from March 27 to 30 are likely to be scaled down
Meanwhile, the Great Indian Travel Bazaar has been cancelled in view of coronavirus.
The the travel and tourism mart was scheduled to be held from April 19-21 in Jaipur.
With the government suspending visa till April 16, foreign buyers would not be able to participate in the mart which depends on such buyers. Last year, 280 foreign buyers took part in the mart.
GITB is organised jointly by the department of tourism and FICCI since 2008.