All schools and colleges in Uttar Pradesh will remain shut till March 22, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday. The precautionary measure was taken as the number of COVID-19 cases in UP touched 11.

In India, as on March 13, 75 people have tested positive for COVID-19 (the disease caused by novel coronavirus). Three of them have been cured and discharged from hospital. India has also reported one coronavirus-related death so far.

"All schools, colleges, technical and vocational education institutes in Uttar Pradesh will remain closed till March 22. We will review the situation on March 22 and will take a decision whether to extend it or not," Yogi Adityanath said.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the situation in Uttar Pradesh is under control and there is no need for people to panic. Stressing on the importance of awareness and caution, he said the state government is reaching out to people through awareness drives at school and community level.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath: All schools, colleges, technical and vocational education institutes will remain closed till March 22. We will review the situation on March 22 and will take a decision whether to extend it or not. pic.twitter.com/QjokinNb4m ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 13, 2020

"The situation in Uttar Pradesh is under control. Though we have not declared coronavirus outbreak to be an epidemic yet, but certain special powers under the Epidemic Act have been given to local authorities to handle the situation," he said.

Giving details of the cases in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath said 11 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state so far. "Seven of them are from Agra, two from Ghaziabad and one each from Noida and Lucknow. Ten of the 11 patients are being treated at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital," he said.

The chief minister said a team of doctors is closely monitoring the movement of people along the Indo-Nepal border and through screening is being conducted.

"The government is trying to equip five hospitals in the state with facility to test samples for COVID-19," Yogi Adityanath said.

"We need to pay attention to prevention and spread awareness to overcome the coronavirus outbreak," he said.

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