Coronavirus: Government orders closure of all educational institutions in J&K

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday decided to suspend the classwork in all the educational institutions across the Union Territory from Thursday till March 31, 2020, in wake of the deadly Coronavirus epidemic.

Addressing a news conference today at Jammu, Director National Health Mission (NHM), Bhupinder Kumar said that it has been decided that the educational institutions across Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed till March 31.

The decision, according to him, has been taken as a precautionary measure in wake of the deadly Coronavirus epidemic, he said.

Earlier on March 08, the government had ordered the closure of all primary schools—both private and government in six districts of Jammu and Kashmir including Jammu, Samba, Srinagar, Budgam, Bandipora and Baramulla.

Director NHM Kumar, who was accompanied by Director Information Dr Sehrish Asghar and Nodal Officer, Coronavirus Control, Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Shafqat Khan, told media persons in Jammu that all educational institutions (government and private including Schools, Colleges and Universities) will suspend class work till March 31, 2020.

However, he informed that “the Board and competitive exams will be conducted as per schedule.” He further appealed to people to avoid unnecessary travel and the use of public transport.

Earlier in the day, the closure of schools across Srinagar remained a hot topic for the public after the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu ordered the closure of all the educational institutions falling within the SMC limits while the divisional administration rebutted the statement of Mayor, saying that no such order has been issued by the administration so far.

The people were confused over the functioning of educational institutions across Srinagar due to the contrary statements made by the SMC Mayor and divisional administration. The chaos came to an end in the evening only after the Director NHM announced the decision taken by the government.