In view of the Coronavirus outbreak and detection of more than 100 positive cases in the country, Haryana Government on Sunday decided to shut down all cinema halls, gyms, swimming polls, theaters, clubs and night clubs across the State till March 31.
Apart from this, all Government and private schools in the state will remain closed during this period. Also, mass gathering of more than 200 people will remain prohibited in all religious, social, political, cultural, sports and personal and family events in the State.
These decisions were taken in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal and Health Minister Anil Vij here on Sunday to review the preparedness of Health Department to check the spread of Coronavirus here.
Earlier, the State Government had on Friday decided to close down all Government and private schools in five districts namely Sonepat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Faridabad and Gurgaon. The government had also ordered the closure of all Government and private universities and colleges in the state till March 31 as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of Coronavirus disease.
“All Government and private schools in Haryana will remain closed till March 31. The students will attend the school only to take the Board exams, annual exams and assessment exams as per previous schedule. However, all teaching and non teaching staff members will attend the school as usual,” stated a Government’s order issued on Sunday.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister also directed that 2500 to 3000 beds (minimum 100 in each district) should be identified in the isolation wards set up in the Government hospitals of the State. However, he said, the number of these beds could be increased in cities adjoining Delhi like Gurugram, Rohtak and Jhajjar.
At present, 1328 beds have been identified in 298 isolation wards in Government hospitals and district wise arrangement of quarantine facility has been made for 3000 persons. Apart from this, sensitization programmes would be held in all Government and private hospitals in the State to sensitize the doctors as well the staff about the Coronavirus.
The Health Minister said that AYUSH Department would organize 100 camps in the State from Monday onwards wherein medicines would be distributed to the people free of cost to enhance the immune system. Decision was also taken in the meeting that sanitizers would be installed in those government offices where people in large number visit for their day to day work.
Initially, Haryana Civil Secretariat and Mini Secretariat would be taken up for this work. Apart from this, all the CMOs have been asked to ensure the installation of sanitizers in district offices in consultation with Deputy Commissioners concerned.
During the meeting, it was informed that the adequate arrangements have been made to deal with any eventuality in the wake of spread of Coronavirus in the Country. Personal protection equipment in sufficient numbers is available with the Health Department and these are being further augmented.
It was also informed that the Director General Health Services (DGHS) has been asked to convey message to all the private hospitals in the state so that their services can also be utilised in case of any need.
Notably, Coronavirus was declared epidemic in Haryana last Thursday. Till Sunday evening, 14 cases of Coronavirus have been reported in the state. The number of COVID-19 cases in India has reached 108.
GOVT ISSUES DIRECTIONS TO JAILS
Haryana Government has directed all Jail Superintendents to ensure that newly admitted prisoners are kept in quarantine in a separate barrack for a week.
In an order issued to all Jail Superintendents, the Government stated, “All newly admitted prisoners shall be kept in quarantine in a separate barrack for a week under the supervision of the medical officer. The medical officer and staff shall ensure thorough screening of all newly admitted prisoners. Every prisoner who shows any symptoms of the virus shall be isolated and necessary treatment shall be provided to them.”