Now, all schools in Panchkula to remain closed till March 31

Panchkula, March 15

The Haryana government today escalated its defence against Covid-19 by announcing the closure of all government as well as private schools till March 31 in all districts, including Panchkula, as per the latest corrigendum dated March 15 issued by the School Education Department.

“The students will attend the school only to take the board exams, annual exams and assessment exams, March 2020, as per the previous schedule. However, all teaching and non-teaching staff members will attend the school as usual,” it further read. District Education Officer (Panchkula) Urmila Rohilla confirmed the development. Previously, schools in just five districts — Gurgaon, Sonepat, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Faridabad — were ordered to be shut down.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja ordered owners of all restaurants, hotels, cinema halls, commercial shops, gyms and malls to sanitise their buildings to fight Covid-19 spread. However, cinnema halls and gyms will remain shut till further orders. “There is no need to panic over Covid. We have set up separate isolation wards at the Civil Hospital, community health centres in Kalka and Raipur Rani,” the press release by the district administration said.

Panchkula so far safe

“There are 89 persons under observation. Of them, 18 have completed their observation period. The district has so far remained safe from Covid-19 infection as all nine samples sent for tests have been found negative.” Dr Rajeev Narwal, nodal officer for the district for Covid-19. — TNS