Coronavirus: Health ministry proposes closure of all educational institutions

NEW DELHI: As part of a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare proposed on Monday the closure of all schools, colleges and universities till March 31.

The decision was made after a ‘high level’ meeting of ministers from various departments. All states, except Andhra Pradesh, have already shut down all educational institutions till March 31 or beyond.

Universities such as the Delhi University have suspended classes and moved the teaching-learning process online.

Preventive strategy

The meeting, headed by Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, led to a consensus on nine measures for ‘social distancing’ to be implemented as a preventive strategy.

Apart from closing educational institutions, these include avoiding non-essential travel, encouraging work from home, conducting meetings through video conferencing, implementing handwashing protocols in restaurants, postponing large events, taking up communication drives and keeping the public informed.

These “temporary measures” will be in place till March 31.

The number of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has reached 126 according to the ministry. As of Tuesday, India has already seen three deaths due to the disease.

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