Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir ordered all schools and higher educational institutions, including coaching centres, to remain closed until further notice on Sunday.
The decision was made at a meeting with the additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Principal Secretary to Government, Home, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, and other officers of Jammu and Kashmir, which was chaired by Chief Secretary Arun Kumar, who is also the Chairperson State Executive Committee.
The order states, “Until further orders, all schools and higher educational institutions, including coaching centres, shall remain closed for onsite / in-person teaching.”
Educational institutions, on the other hand, have been allowed to request personal attendance of a limited number of vaccinated staff for administrative purposes.
The government also stated that no weekend curfew will be imposed in any district of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., all districts will be under night curfew.
It states that “the maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor/outdoor gathering shall be limited to 25.”
All Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to focus on the medical-block positivity rates in their jurisdictions.
“Intensified measures related to Covid management and activity restriction shall be undertaken by the DCs in these Blocks,” the order states, adding, “There shall be renewed focus on Panchavat level mapping of cases and micro-containment zones shall be established wherever unusual spikes of cases are noticed.”
DCs have been instructed to keep a close eye on the positivity rates in the blocks and consider enacting stricter control measures in closed clustered spaces such as public and private offices, community halls, malls, bazaars, and so on, if the weekly positivity rate in these Blocks exceeds 4%.
“In addition to vaccination, the three-T protocol of testing, tracking, and treating needs to be strengthened in these Blocks. On a best-effort basis, the proportion of RT-PCR tests in the total mix should be increased to 70% or more, excluding travellers.”
The District Magistrates, according to the order, must strictly ensure that COVID appropriate behaviour is followed and that violators are prosecuted under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code. “For the enforcement of Covid Appropriate Behaviour, the District Magistrates shall form joint teams of Police and Executive Magistrates.”
The Chenab Times News Desk