J&K govt announces closure of schools as Covid cases rise

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday announced the closure of schools - up to Class 9 for two weeks and Classes 10 - 12 for a week - from April 5 in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases in the Union Territory.

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday announced the closure of schools - up to Class 9 for two weeks and Classes 10 - 12 for a week - from April 5 in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases in the Union Territory.

“In view of the rising trend in Covid -19 cases in J&K and the likelihood of young children getting infected and transmitting infections in large numbers, all classes up to and including class 9 in schools will be closed for two weeks beginning Monday April 5 till April 18 in J&K. Classes 10, 11 and 12 will also be closed for one week in all schools from Monday till April 11 in entire J&K (sic),” the J&K Lieutenant Governor's office tweeted.

The Lieutenant Governor also issued a direction to restrict the crowd in the event of social and customary functions to a maximum of 200. All guidelines and Covid Standard Operating Procedures needed to be abided by, he said.Watch:Gunfight underway in South Kashmir's Shopian

Educational institutions in the Valley were opened last month after they remained shut for more than a year post the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent Covid lockdown.