The district administration Srinagar has ordered closure of all coaching centres where any positive covid19 case has been reported.
The order issued today by deputy commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said: “Covid19 cases have been reported from several coaching institutes of district Srinagar, particularly those operational in Parraypora and Rajbagh areas of the Srinagar city.”
The cases were reported during the sampling drive by the district administration, even as the sampling of students had also been done by the coaching institutes in the past weeks. “But the management of these coaching institutes continued their classes even after reporting of positive cases in brazen violation of covid19 SOPs,” the order reads.
The order stated that the proprietors of the coaching institutes did not “bother” to inform the district administration about the positive cases. “Therefore, in view of the above situation and in line with covi19 guidelines, it is hereby ordered that coaching institutions where positive cases have been reported shall immediately close their classes till complete sampling is carried out and results are received,” the order reads.
The administration has also decided that the coaching institutes will remain closed till proper sanitization of facilities is done by the administration.
The district administration has further stated that the mandatory sampling of all coaching institutes (students and staff) irrespective of positive cases shall be carried out and repeated after every 21 days. “Also, management shall ensure that covid19 SOPs are strictly followed. Full cooperation shall be extended to the sampling teams,” the order reads.
“Necessary action shall be taken under relevant sections of disaster management Act 2005 and Epidemic Disease 1897 in case of any violation or non-compliance of the order,” the order reads.
The proprietors of the coaching centres said they will extend their full cooperation in implementing all the orders. “It is a serious issue and we have to take care of the lives of students and staff as well. We will adhere to all the directions issued by the administration,” Latief Masudie of Kashmir Institute of Excellence (KIE) said.