Coronavirus: Primary schools shut in Jammu, Samba

Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered to close all primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts till March 31 with immediate effect as a preventive measure following the outbreak of Coronavirus infection in J&K.

Srinagar: In the wake of coronavirus threat the Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered the closure of all primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts till March 31.

The government has also suspended biometric attendance till March 31.

Principal secretary planning, development, monitoring and J&K government Spokesperson Rohit Kansal, tweeted: "All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts of J&K to be closed till March 31 with immediate effect. All biometric attendance in J&K to be suspended immediately till March 31."

• All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts of J&K to be closed till March 31 with immediate effect @ diprjk

  — Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) March 7, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts of J&K to be closed till March 31 with immediate effect @ diprjk

  — Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) March 7, 2020

  ">

  All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts of J&K to be closed till March 31 with immediate effect @ diprjk

  — Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) March 7, 2020

• All biometric attendance in J&K to be suspended immediately till March 31

  — Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) March 7, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  All biometric attendance in J&K to be suspended immediately till March 31

  — Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) March 7, 2020

  ">

  All biometric attendance in J&K to be suspended immediately till March 31

  — Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) March 7, 2020

The health department in J&K has been put on alert to deal with possible cases of COVID-19 in Kashmir. Trained staff has been mobilised and an isolation ward has been established.

Doctors have been deputed at medical centres across Kashmir. The J&K government has also deputed medical staff to screen foreigners at Srinagar airport.

Dr Shafqat Khan, Nodal Officer, Coronavirus Control, told Media, "7000 cases have been screened in J&K so far, 300 cases have been put under surveillance and 27 have been sent for testing to Delhi."

"The administration is planning to set up a laboratory in J&K so that samples are not sent outside and tests are conducted in the union territory to avoid time lapse," he said. (IANS)