Coronavirus: TN puts on hold order announcing leave for schools
The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday (March 14) put on hold its decision to shut classes till March 31 in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
A fresh order on the school leave would be issued on Sunday (March 15), Chief Minister Edapaddi Palaniswami said.
Earlier, the school education department had ordered the cancellation of pre-KG, LKG and UKG classes till March 31.
Also read | No pre-kg, LKG, UKG classes in TN till March 31 due to coronavirus
Also, institutions bordering Kerala, which had reported the most number of coronavirus positive cases in south India, were asked to declare holidays for students up to class 5.
Palaniswami had earlier reviewed the state’s preventive measures as a follow up to the March 6 exercise. However, there was no official word on what transpired at the meeting held at the Secretariat.
Health and family welfare minister C Vijayabhaskar, who was also present, said the Union Health Ministry was in constant touch with the state government and monitoring its preparedness to control the outbreak.
“As you may be aware WHO announced #Covid19 as a pandemic. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry is in constant touch with TN Health and monitoring our preparedness,” he said in his social media accounts.
“I appeal to the public to cooperate with the government actions, avoid travel and practice hygiene measures. If there are any symptoms, visit a doctor,” he said.
The Chief Minister had on March 12 had sought to allay fears over coronavirus, saying the state was home to the best medical practitioners in the country and people need not panic.
Tamil Nadu had reported its first coronavirus case on March 7 when a 45-year-old engineer from Kancheepuram had tested positive after returning from Oman. However, he tested negative and is expected to be discharged in the coming days.