53 students, 4 teachers test positive for Covid19 in Kashmir

Srinagar: At least 53 students and four faculty members of different schools in Kashmir division tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday that prompted the authorities to close seven schools across the region temporarily.

News agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that among the 51 students that were tested positive for COVID-19 includes 14 students from a Government High School Katsoo Srigufwara in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, 36 students of Noorani Public School in Khull area of Damhal Hanjipora of Kulgam district and one student of Government Higher Secondary School Kaloosa Bandipora.

Meanwhile, three teachers and a class IV employee of the School Education Department were also tested positive for Coronavirus on Wednesday.

Block Medical Officer (BMO) Srigufwara, Dr Arshid Tak confirmed to the news agency—KNO that 14 students of Govt High School Katsoo Srigufwara were tested positive for Covid-19.

The Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) of the area Abdul Rashid said that the administration including Tehsildar has decided to keep school closed for one week.

Likewise, at least 36 students and a 60-year-old parent of one of the students were also tested COVID-19 positive at Noorani Public School in Khull area of Damhal Hanjipora in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

Block Medical Officer (BMO) DH Pora Dr. Shugufta Salam said that at least 37 COVID-19 positive cases have been detected from this school including primary contact of students in mass and random sampling. “Testing for all the contacts will be undertaken in due course of time.”

She said COVID-19 tests were conducted for 390 individuals out of which 37 were tested positive for COVID-19.

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kulgam, Mohammed Ashraf Rather told KNO that the school will remain closed for at least a week.

Similarly, authorities in Bandipora district also ordered closure of government Higher Secondary School in Kaloosa locality after its one teacher and a student were tested positive for COVID-19.

The officials of the district confirmed it with KNO that a teacher and the student of 11th standard were tested positive for Covid-19 at government higher secondary school Kaloosa after the health department had collected samples of some teachers and students a few days ago.

The official said that the school would remain closed for the next three days as a precautionary measure.

In the meantime, authorities in central Kashmir’s Budgam district ordered closure of three educational establishments for at least 5 days following the outbreak of COVID-19 among teachers and two students.

SDM Chadoora told KNO that “Testing for all the contacts will be undertaken in due course of time.”

He also said that the schools that were closed today include Government High School Sogam, Government High School Badipora and Government Girls Higher Secondary School Budgam.

The officials at the School Education Department also said that at least two staff members of Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Kothibagh Srinagar were tested positive for Coronavirus on Wednesday.

In this regard, officials of the School Education Department told KNO that it has decided to close the institution till Saturday.

The officials said that the school will resume the academics from Monday.

Earlier, some staff and students of several other schools in Jammu and Kashmir were also tested positive for the virus previously following the reopening of schools here. —(KNO)