In the wake of coronavirus threat, the government ordered suspension of teaching and class work in all schools, colleges and universities, and closure of Anganwari centres in J&K till 31 March 2020. However, the board and other competitive examinations shall be conducted as per schedule.
Director National Health Mission (NHM), Bhupinder Kumar saidthis today at a press conference. Director Information and Public Relations DrSyed Sehrish Asgar and Nodal Officer, Coronavirus, Dr. Shafqat Khan werepresent on the occasion.
“All educational institutions, private as well as public,including schools, colleges and universities in J&K shall suspend theirteaching and class work and all Anganwari centres shall remain closed tillMarch 31. However, the board and other competitive examinations shall beconducted as per scheduled,” Director, NHM said.
Spelling out measures being taken up to control and preventspread of this Virus, Kumar informed that control rooms and surveillance teamshave been constituted in all the districts of UT besides two Corona-Virus labtesting facilities have already been made functional in SKIMS, Srinagar andGMC, Jammu.
Giving a detailed break up about the Corona virus suspectedcases in UT of J&K till date, he said that 1,211 travellers and persons incontact with suspected cases have been put under active surveillance; 150 ofthem have completed surveillance period of 28 days while as 12 are undergoinghospital quarantine.
Kumar said that 64 samples of suspected cases have been sentfor testing so far; 28 have reported negative, 1 has tested positive and reportof 35 is awaited.
Urging people to contribute in tackling the situation, heappealed all incoming passengers returning to J&K having travel history toChina, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran,Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo self-imposed quarantine for aperiod of 14 days from the date of their arrival.
Kumar said the government has urged citizens especiallythose with travel history to affected countries such as China, Italy, Iran,South Korea, etc. to “self declare immediately and to report to the nearestgovernment health facility if any symptoms are found”.
Kumar maintained that novel coronavirus has no definitetreatment so prevention is best and every person has a capacity to contributein this situation.
He urged the public to maintain social distance and avoidunnecessary travel and use of public transport. He reiterated that citizensmust take basic precautions such as personal hygiene, hand washing, coughingand sneezing etiquettes and must avoid touching of face, eyes, nose and alsoreport any symptoms (fever, difficult breathing and cough) to the medical authoritiesimmediately in order to contain the virus.
The government also advised people not to panic and to relyon the information released by the government in this regard.
Meanwhile, Nodal Officer for Coronavirus Control, Dr ShafqatKhan said there was no “second positive case of Covid-19 in Jammu”.