Amid Rising Coronavirus Fears, J&K Admin Invokes Sec 144 To Shut Schools, Colleges

Updated on: 12 March 2020 2:18 pm

The J&K administration, in an effort to combat Coronavirus, has now shut schools, colleges and universities in Jammu district under Section 144 CrPc. The order issued by the DC Jammu says that Section 144 of CrPc empowers her to issue certain directions in urgent case of “nuisance of apprehended danger when it is considered that such directions are likely to prevent danger to human life health or safety.”

The government has announced the suspension of teaching and classwork in all schools, colleges and universities (Public & Private) and closure of Anganwari Centres until March 31, 2020, following the emerging situation due to COVID-19 in J&K. However, board and other competitive examinations shall be conducted as per schedule, Director National Health Mission (NHM), Bhupinder Kumar said.

He said control rooms and surveillance teams have been constituted in all the districts of UT besides two Corona-Virus lab testing facilities have already been made functional in SKIMS, Srinagar and GMC, Jammu.

He said 1,211 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under active surveillance; 150 of these have completed surveillance period of 28 days while as 12 are undergoing hospital quarantine.

Kumar said 64 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far; 28 have reported negative, 01 has tested positive and report of 35 is still awaited.

Urging people to contribute to tackling the situation, Director NHM appealed all incoming passengers having travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo self-imposed quarantine for 14 days from the date of their arrival.

Kumar also said the government has urged citizens especially those with travel history to affected countries to self-declare immediately and to report to the nearest government health facility if any symptoms are found.

Kumar asked the public to maintain social distance and avoid unnecessary travel and use of public transport.