Two private schools were on Thursday sealed for violating COVID guidelines by running community classes in central Kashmir district of Budgam.

Meanwhile, restrictions were further intensified on the movement of people to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in Kashmir valley, where ‘Corona curfew’ imposed by administration entered day 22 on Thursday.

Official sources said that following complaints about two schools violating COVID guidelines, authorities on Thursday visited two primary schools, identified as Al-Huda and Al-Asar, at village Chewdara in Beerwah, Budgam. “After finding that both the schools were running community classes, the authorities sealed both the institutes,” they said.

They said strict action will be taken against anyone who violates the guidelines, including COVID curfew, which was extended till May 24 in J&K amid rise in the number of coronavirus cases.  

The administration last month ordered the closure of all universities, colleges, schools, and coaching centres in the Union Territory till May 15 though teaching and non-teaching staff was asked to attend schools and colleges. But, the J&K administration later allowed teaching and non-teaching staff to stay home in view of a surge in COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir. The closure of the educational institutes was later extended till May 30.  

Teachers, however, are conducting online classes from home in the valley though many students alleged that they were unable to attend these classes due to non-availability of smart phones. The decision to allow teachers to take online classes from their respective homes was taken after many teaching and non teaching staff members of government schools tested positive for the virus in the Union Territory.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday extended the 'COVID curfew' by another week till May 24 in all 20 districts in the Union Territory though essential services were exempted from the lockdown. This was the fourth successive extension of COVID curfew in the valley since April 29. The latest extension came in the backdrop of unabated rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in J&K, particularly the summer capital, Srinagar, which has recorded the major chunk of positive cases during the last over a month.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole has said that the rate of daily Covid-19 positive patients has stabilised to some extent and it has plunged by 10-12 per cent during the past few days in the valley. However, he said though there are chances that mortality rate may remain the same or increase in the next few days.