Baramulla, Apr 03 (KNO): The authorities on Saturday ordered the closure of two Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Sumal and Sopore area of North Kashmir districts after some students and staff members were tested positive for COVID-19.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the two students were tested positive for COVID-19 at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Sumbal after which the decision to close the school has been taken by the administration.

The official said that concerned schools shall remain closed for the next five days from today while the duo-infected students will remain in quarantine as per the standard operating procedure.

Similarly, the four staff members were tested positive for COVID-19 at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Sopore in Baramulla district following which it was closed for one week.

The official said that the concerned school shall remain closed for one week from today.

An order issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore in this regard reads that in view of reported COVID-19 positivity of four staff members in Girls Higher Secondary School Sopore and to pre-emt further spread of the virus, the institution will remain closed for a period of seven days w.e.f 03/04/2021.

The order has been issued under the ambit of the Disaster Management Act, it added.

Currently, COVID-19 cases are increasing for the last one week in educational institutions. In view of this, the authorities in many districts have started closing schools as a precaution.

According to an official, the ongoing surge of COVID-19 positive cases has prompted health officials to ask school authorities in Kashmir to keep extra vigil and strictly implement the coronavirus protocol.

Pertinently, in the Bandipora district, about five schools have been closed in the last few days after many students were found to be infected with the coronavirus—(KNO)