NEW DELHI: A high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on Tuesday held a meeting and had a detailed deliberation on prevention and management of coronavirus (COVID-19).The GoM chaired by Union health minister Harsh Vardhan was attended by civil aviation minister Hardeep S Puri, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, minister of state for home Nityanand Rai and minister of state for health Ashwini Choubey, among others.After the meeting, the Union health ministry issued a comprehensive advisory proposing social distancing measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.The key measures proposed included closure of all educational institutions, gymnasiums, museums, cultural and social centres, swimming pools and theatres, Joint secretary in the health ministry Lav Aggarwal said.Students should be advised to stay at home and online education should be promoted, he added."Non-essential travel should be avoided. Buses, trains and aeroplanes to maximise social distancing in public transport, besides ensuring proper disinfection of services," Aggarwal said.Restaurants should ensure a handwashing protocol and proper cleanliness of frequently-touched surfaces, he added.They should also ensure a minimum of one metre physical distancing between tables and encourage open-air seating, Aggarwal said.The government urged the local authorities to have a dialogue with the organisers of sporting events and competitions involving large gatherings, adding that they might be advised to postpone such events, he added.It also advised the local authorities to have a dialogue with opinion makers and religious leaders to regulate mass gatherings and ensure no overcrowding."Local authorities should have a meeting with traders' associations and other stakeholders to regulate hours, dos and don'ts...and take up a communication drive at market places such as sabzi mandi, anaj mandi, besides at bus depots, railway stations, post offices etc., where essential services are provided," Aggarwal said.Private sector organisations and employers were being encouraged to allow employees to work from home wherever feasible, he added.The government also called for meetings to be held through video-conferencing as far as feasible.Meetings involving a large number of people should be minimised or re-scheduled unless necessary, Aggarwal said.