COVID-19: Schools, colleges shut in several states; IPL postponed

Taking into account the likelihood of coronavirus running riot all across the country, both the Centre and the state governments have taken a series of steps to contain the virus’ spread. The measures range from banning sports gathering to shutting down schools and colleges besides directing hotels and industries to take preventive measures in the wake of the scare.

The Union government has directed all the states to be on high alert to combat the epidemic, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

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The Delhi government, in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus from the current six, has stopped all sports gathering, including the Indian Premier League 2020, in the national capital. Addressing a press conference, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, on Friday (March 13), said, district magistrates have been asked to ensure that all directives pertaining to coronavirus are implemented. “All sports gatherings will be banned, including the IPL, in wake of the coronavirus threat,” he said.

The move has raised fresh doubts over the fate of India Open badminton tournament, a crucial event in the Tokyo Olympics qualification cycle. The USD 400,000 Super 500 event was scheduled to be held without any spectators, to avoid spreading the deadly disease.

The All India Chess Federation (AICF) too postponed all national championships till May 31 in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The AICF also asked the state associations to avoid any state-level events till April 15.

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Health Minister Satyendar Jain said home quarantine was the best solution in case one has any symptom of coronavirus.

A day after the confirmation of the first death, in India, due to the epidemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a video conference of SAARC leaders to chalk out a joint strategy to fight coronavirus and set an example for the world.

Meanwhile, Aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked international airlines to consider waiving ticket cancellation and reschedule charges or look at providing any other incentive, amid the outbreak. In a circular, the DGCA said, “In the current scenario, it would be appropriate if airlines support their passenger in this tough time by waiving off cancellation/reschedule charges or by providing any other incentive.”

Meanwhile, many schools, colleges, and companies across the country have been temporarily suspended.

Delhi: Skills and talent development company NIIT said it will not hold classes in its education centres located in Delhi-NCR until further notice.

The Jamia Millia Islamia on Friday suspended classes with immediate effect till March 31. The varsity has also decided to close all schools run by it till March 31 but added that the Board examinations will continue as per the schedule. Earlier in the day, the Jawaharlal Nehru University suspended all classes, with immediate effect, till March 31.

Odisha: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said the government has earmarked ₹200 crore to combat the coronavirus threat in the state and announced the closure of educational institutions in the state till March 31 except for holding examinations. The government also declared COVID-19 as a “disaster”, the chief minister said in a statement in the state Assembly. ”

Uttar Pradesh: The UP state government declared the closure of all schools and colleges, where examination process is not on, till March 22.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “Wherever the examination process is underway it will go on as per schedule.”

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So far, 11 coronavirus cases have been reported from the state of which 10 are being treated in Delhi and one in KGMU, Lucknow. That includes seven from Agra, two from Ghaziabad and one each from Noida and Lucknow.

Goa: Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday said the government will issue a circular asking hotels and industries to take preventive measures. However, no positive case of COVID-19 has been reported so far in Goa.

West Bengal: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people to avoid crowded places as a precaution and listed out several measures to combat the threat of the pandemic.

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46 people under quarantine in Kalaburagi

Nearly, 46 persons who were in direct contact with the 76-year old man who died on March 10 night due to co-morbidity and coronavirus infection have been placed under quarantine, district officials said on Friday.

Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Sharat B said 31 of them have been categorised as “high risk” and the remaining 15 RPT 15 as “low risk”. Officials said four family members of the man have displayed flu symptoms and their swab samples have been sent for testing in Bengaluru.

Nepal halts all mountaineering expeditions

Nepal has halted all mountaineering expeditions, including Mount Everest ascents, and stopped issuing on-arrival tourist visas and urged countries to take precautionary measures. Nepal has so far confirmed only one case of coronavirus, though dozens of people suspected to have coronavirus were admitted to the government hospital for tests.

900 still under observation in Kerala

Around 900 people are still under observation in Pathanamthitta after the district administration released a route map identifying places visited by the three-member family from Ranni which returned to Kerala from coronavirus-hit Italy last month, health officials said.

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Around 16 squads led by the District Collector and the District Medical Officer (DMO) travelled across the district to identify the places visited by the family and to track their contacts, a senior medical officer of the state said.

Meanwhile, Pathnamthitta District Collector PB Nooh had said there was no need to shut down the places visited by the family and the aim was to track down the last contact of the affected people.

Govt, RBI to take all necessary steps to quell fear sentiment around coronavirus: CEA

The government and the RBI will take all necessary steps to quell the “fear sentiment” created due to coronavirus, Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian said on Friday.

He said the fall in Indian stock indices is lower than the decline witnessed globally and the situation in India will stabilise over the next few weeks as focus shifts to economic fundamentals like declining inflation, growing industrial production and adequate forex reserves.

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“The government is seriously considering and looking at all aspects of this situation and the government together with the regulator will definitely respond when it is necessary. Market reaction is not reflecting fundamentals, fundamentals (of Indian economy) are improving,” Subramanian told reporters here.

Similarly, the Indian Railways on Friday told the Delhi High Court that it has put in place safety and security measures like baggage scanners, hand-held metal detectors and CCTV cameras in stations as sought in a PIL. The court granted the railways time till May 15 to file an affidavit and asked it to indicate the steps taken by it and the future road map with regard to safety and security measures in its stations.

(With inputs from agencies)