Schools, colleges to remain shut
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 8: The Government today ordered that all schools and higher educational institutions including coaching centres shall continue to remain closed for online/in-person teaching till further orders.
However, the Government has relaxed the ceiling of 25 on indoor/outdoor gatherings on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations on August 15.
Guidelines to this effect were issued today by State Executive Committee Chairperson-cum-Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Dr Arun Kumar Mehta.
While maximum number of persons permitted to attend any indoor/outdoor gathering will remain restricted to 25, the State Executive Committee has relaxed the cap for August 15 only on account of Independence Day celebrations.
However, the SEC has asked all District Magistrates to ensure maintenance of COVID Appropriate Behaviour during the gatherings. Click here to watch video
The Government has further ordered that all schools and higher educational institutions including coaching centres shall continue to remain closed for onsite/in-person teaching till further orders.
However, the educational institutions have been permitted to seek personal attendance of vaccinated staff/students for administrative purposes and Independence Day celebrations subject to limit of 25 and strict adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour.
“Night curfew shall continue to remain in force in all districts from 8 pm to 7 pm but there will be no weekend curfew,” the Government order said.
All Deputy Commissioners have been also asked to focus on the positivity rates of the medical-blocks under their jurisdictions.
“Intensified measures, related to COVID management and restriction of activities, shall be undertaken by the DCs in these Blocks,” the order read, adding, “There shall be renewed focus on Panchayat level mapping of cases and micro-containment zones shall be constituted wherever unusual spike of cases is noticed.”
The State Executive Committee has asked the Deputy Commissioners to keep active track of the positivity rates in the blocks and consider implementing stricter control measures in closed clustered spaces like public and private Offices, Community halls, Malls, Bazaars etc, in case weekly positivity rate goes beyond 4 percent in these Blocks.
“The three – “T” protocol of testing, tracking and treating, besides vaccination, needs to be strengthened in these Blocks. The proportion of RT-PCR tests in the total mix should be scaled up, on best effort basis, to 70% or more, excluding travelers,” the State Executive Committee said.
The District Magistrates, as per the order, shall strictly ensure that there is full compliance to COVID Appropriate Behavior and defaulters are firmly dealt with under relevant Sections of the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code. “The District Magistrates shall constitute joint teams of Police and Executive Magistrates for enforcement of COVID Appropriate Behaviour.”
The State Executive Committee directed for intensive vaccination drive in all districts to ensure timely administration of second doze besides maximizing first dose to vulnerable groups.
“Positive cases detected as a result of intensive testing need to be isolated/quarantined at the earliest and their contacts should also be traced,” the SEC order said and called for immediate isolation and treatment of COVID-19 patients in treatment facilities, hospitals and houses.
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