Schools, Colleges To Conduct Online Classes In Kozhikode Amid Nipah Virus

The district administration on Saturday has announced that all schools and colleges will conduct online classes from September 18 owing to Nipah virus in Kozhikode.

According to the order issued by Kozhikode District Collector A Geetha, the new arrangement has been introduced so that the students' study do not get affected due to continuous leave.

Earlier, it was informed that the institutes will remain shut till September 24. As per the order, all educational institutions including tuition centers and coaching centers should conduct classes online. However, public examinations will remain unchanged.

A total of six persons have so far tested positive for Nipah virus in the state and two of them have succumbed to the disease.

Meanwhile, the state government has been asked to issue an advisory by the Kerala High Court, if found necessary, to the Sabarimala pilgrims as a precautionary measure amid the Nipah outbreak as the temple opens for monthly pooja on Sunday.

On the other hand, Kerala Health Minister Veena George earlier today informed that no new cases of the Nipah virus infection were reported in Kerala till Saturday afternoon. Moreover, samples of 11 people tested negative for the infectious virus.

"Those who tested positive are undergoing treatment at two private hospitals and medical college hospitals in Kerala. Medical boards have been set up in all those hospitals", George was quoted saying to ANI.

"All who are in treatment are under stable condition as per the report of medical boards. The child of the diseased who is Nipah positive is slightly improving its health condition but is still on the ventilator. Today we are focusing on contact tracing of the person who tested positive last day," she further added.

The Health Minister added that the state administration has constituted 19 teams and a core team to evaluate the situation every day. The health minister said that a total of 21 people are quarantined at the Government Medical College in Kozhikode.