Schools, coaching centres to remain shut
*Fully vaccinated to cross Lakhanpur without COVID test
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 29: Keeping schools and coaching centres shut till further orders, the Jammu and Kashmir administration today permitted higher educational institutions including Universities and Colleges to resume off-line classes provided all staff members and students are fully vaccinated.
In another significant decision, the administration also decided to stop mandatory COVID testing for those who have got both doses of COVID vaccine.
The administration decision to open higher educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir comes around four months after they were shut following spread of second wave of COVID-19.
The latest COVID management guidelines were issued today by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta in his capacity as the Chairperson State Executive Committee (SEC).
It also decided to dispense with the mandatory testing for COVID-19 at the entry point to the Union Territory at Lakhanpur for those who have received both dosages of vaccine and allow entry of vaccinated persons into public parks.
“At the entry point to Union Territory at Lakhanpur (which is known as gateway to Jammu and Kashmir), mandatory testing for COVID can be dispensed with for those who have received both doses of vaccine provided a reliable and verifiable system can be put in place in consultation with the medical team,” the SEC order said.
In the order issued after a detailed review of the COVID-19 situation with focus on total weekly new cases (per million), total positivity rate, bed occupancy, case fatality rate and vaccination coverage of targeted population, the SEC ordered that all schools and coaching centres would continue to remain closed for onsite or in-person teaching till further orders.
“However, the higher educational institutions can be permitted to commence with limited in-person teaching subject to 100 percent vaccination of staff and students and specific permission of concerned Deputy Commissioners,” the order said.
It said such institutions can organise special vaccination camps in consultation with the district administration.
“Other educational institutions can allow attendance of vaccinated staff for administrative purposes,” Mehta said.
In a series of measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on April 18 had ordered closure of all educational institutions, including Universities and Colleges, till further orders.
The maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor or outdoor gathering would be strictly restricted to 25, the order said, adding there would be no weekend curfew in any district but the night curfew would continue to remain in force in all districts from 8 pm to 7 am till further orders.
He said the entry into public parks can be permitted to vaccinated persons with due verification.
It was decided to retain most of the COVID-19-containment guidelines, including night curfew, and the district magistrates were directed to strictly ensure that there is full compliance with COVID-appropriate behaviour and defaulters are firmly dealt with under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code.
Directing for ‘no drop’ in COVID-19 testing levels, the SEC said the Deputy Commissioners would also focus on the positivity rates of the medical-blocks under their jurisdictions.
The order said the Deputy Commissioners would keep active track of the positivity rates in blocks and consider implementing stricter control measures in closed clustered spaces like public or private offices, community halls, malls and bazaars in case weekly positivity rate goes beyond four per cent in these blocks.
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