All educational institutes closed in Himachal till April 4 following spike in Covid cases

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 26

All educational institutes in Himachal - universities, colleges, technical institutes and schools - except for the classes having their examination will remain closed up to April 4 following a spike in Covid cases.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here on Friday, which took stock of the situation and expressed concern over the surge in Covid cases in the state.

However, the schools having residential facilities can keep their hostels open in strict compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to keep these residential areas isolated and appoint compliance officer for implementation of the orders.

The teachers and other school and college staff will continue to attend the institutes; nursing and medical institutes will continue to function as usual.

Thakur said no social and cultural events would be organised in the state by the government and gatherings would be restricted to a maximum of 200 for indoor and 50 per cent of the venue capacity for outdoor events. He said congregations and ‘langars’ inside the temples would also be banned but ‘darshan’ would be allowed.

The Chief Minister said April 3 would also be holiday for all offices in the state and there would be no public celebration of Holi. He urged the people to celebrate Holi at home with their families only. Three-to-five-day Holi festivals are held in Palampur, Hamirpur and Rampur every year, but this year there will be no such public functions.

He said all frontline workers would be sensitized to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest completing their second dose as per schedule. It was also decided in the meeting that district administrations would take a judicious call on more restrictions keeping in view positivity and fatality rate in their respective districts.