Tribune News Service
Sangrur, March 19

The Education Department on Thursday offered to use government school buildings as quarantine centres for suspected coronavirus patients. The government has already closed all schools and postponed annual exams till March 31.

Talking to The Tribune, Education Minster Vijay Inder Singla said, “Since we have schools in almost all villages, we have offered to the health authorities that they could use the schools as quarantine centres. The isolation of suspected patients is must if we want to contain the spread of coronavirus. After receiving request from the health officers, we will vacate the school.”

He said the move would help the state in a big way. “Fearing forcible quarantine, many suspected patients are not coming forward. We want to allay such fears and local schools would serve as best isolation centres,” he said.

Singla said they had postponed school examinations and relieved the staff of all schools till March 31. To prevent the spread of infection, they had decided to restrict the activities of all government, semi-government and private schools in the state, he said.

“An awareness drive has been launched. Teams led by health and other officials are visiting every household in villages and cities to make residents aware of the disease,” said the minister.

He said CM Capt Amarinder Singh had been taking feedback about the efforts of the Group of Ministers formed to prevent Covid outbreak in the state.