Staff Reporter
Islamabad
The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) said on Thursday that 22 educational institutions across the country were closed during the last 48 hours for failing to comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs) for curbing the spread of Covid-19.
“During last 48 hours, 22 educational institutions across Pakistan have been closed due to non compliance of health SOPs/protocols and disease prevalence.”
According to the statement, 16 of these educational institutions were in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one in Islamabad and five in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi suspended academic activities at both its campuses for two days, it emerged on Thursday. Three colleges were closed down in Hyderabad division on Thursday after several Covid-19 cases were reported among teaching and non-teaching staff.
Eight positive cases were confirmed at two colleges in Matiari district among teaching and non-teaching staff, according to district health officer Dr Yar Mohammad. The cases were reported at the Government Girls’ Degree College Matiari and the Government College Maula Saeedabad.
“Both colleges have been closed down by the district administration,” Matiari Deputy Commissioner Ghulam Hyder Chandio said. He stated that the colleges would be disinfected, adding that the infected employees had been advised to isolate at home.
Meanwhile, Jamshoro Deputy Commissioner Farid Mustafa directed on Thursday to seal Government Degree Boys’ College Bhan Saeedabad after 18 virus cases were reported among college staff.
He added that six more cases were reported among staff working at Army Public School Sehwan and five more cases among staff working at Government Girls’ High School Sehwan.
He said that the Government Degree Boys’ College Bhan Saeedabad had been sealed immediately while the remaining two schools were being disinfected by health workers. He said that Covid-19 tests were being carried out on students in Kotri’s schools and colleges, adding that the results were awaited.
Earlier in the week, a major medical college in the federal capital was sealed after 16 Covid-19 cases were reported among students and employees.
The Islamabad district health office in a letter had stated: “It has been observed with great concern that numerous cases of Covid-19 have been reported from Riphah Medical College, Islamabad, since September 9.
“Till date more than 16 cases have been reported. This trend is very alarming as this institute is becoming a super spreader and a hotspot for Covid-19. It is advised to immediately close down the campus and hostel premises and conduct thorough
disinfection activities.”
Meanwhile, another three people tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday out of 5,000 samples taken from public and private educational institutions in the capital so far.
Two employees of the city’s largest women’s college were among those diagnosed with the disease. Those who tested positive were told to isolate for two weeks.
