TIMES NATION

Edu min: Decision to reopen schools and colleges will be taken on April 14

District Heads To Ensure Seamless Functioning Of Pharma Units: Govt

New Delhi:06.04.2020

The government on Sunday directed district heads to ensure seamless functioning of pharma units making devices and medicines, while the education minister said a decision on reopening of schools and colleges will be taken on April14 after a review of the coronavirus threat in an indication that the 21-day lockdown could be lifted as scheduled.

Also on Sunday, eight Malaysian citizens who attended a Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin in New Delhi were caught by immigration authorities at the IGI airport while trying to flee the country on a special flight arrangedfor thestrandedtravellers.

They had emerged from hiding in the Delhi-NCR region and made their way to the airport to try and get on a special flight arranged by the Malaysian high commission for their citizens stranded in India. Asserting that there was no evidence that coronavirus was an airborne infection, the health ministry also said the rate of doubling of Covid-19 cases in India is 4.1 days currently, but if the cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation would not have happened, it would have been 7.4 days.

Unsure of what turn the Covid-19 pandemic will take in India, various key ministries and departments have cautiously started to chalk out reemergence plans and strategies to come out of the 21-day nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

Thefocusof thecentral and state governments currently appeared to be on two key aspects— continuing with efforts on a war footing to contain the fast-spreading virus, andworking on exit and “staggered reemergence” from the lockdown. During his interaction with chief ministers last week through video conferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pitched for formulating a common exit strategy to ensure staggered re-emergence of the population once the lockdown ended.

While making it clear that a decision on how and when to restore passenger services will be taken in coming weeks, sources in the railway said several proposals were being looked at as it was gearing up for the end of the lockdown on April 14. From making passengers wear masks to using the Arogya Setu app to check their health status before allowing them to travel and encouraging social distancing on board are a few proposals that are being looked at, sources said.

With all schools and other educational institutes closed in the country due to the coronavirus lockdown, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said the government will take a decision on reopening of schools and colleges on April 14 after reviewing the situation.

In an interview to PTI, he said the safety of students and teachers is of utmost importance to the government and his ministry is prepared to ensure there is no academic loss to students if schools and colleges needed to remain shut beyond April14. PTI

HELPING HAND: Members of Muslim community prepare food for the needy in Chandigarh on Sunday