Varsity sealed after 16 cases emerge

ISLAMABAD:

On what was supposed to be the first day to welcome students back, the Islamabad Capital Territory administration on Tuesday sealed a private medical university in the federal capital after 16 cases of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) were confirmed there during random sampling.

The federal health ministry wrote to the Islamabad district administration that samples of 16 people collected randomly from an educational institution on September 9 had tested positive. Acting on this information, the district administration sealed the Ripah Medical University in Islamabad until further orders as a preventive measure.

In a notification issued on Tuesday, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said that the medical college was sealed after 16 Covid-19 cases were reported.

The Islamabad police cordoned off the area and evacuated the students from the main campus and its hostels.

The notification read that “after analysis of epidemiological trend by the Islamabad DC Covid-19 Nerve Centre, and in order to prevent community spread of the virus, the Islamabad Riphah Medical University – campus and hostel premises– are hereby sealed with immediate effect, in public interest and until further orders".

Meanwhile, with the reopening of educational institutes, the assistant commissioners have started inspecting various schools in the city to ensure that Covid-19 SOPs are being strictly enforced.

All schools are required to strictly follow the SOPs.

Those found violating the orders will face strict action, Shafqaat said while addressing the media later on Tuesday. He said it was the top priority of the administration to protect the lives of students.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2020.