Two schools in Noida sent back children and shut down the premises for a few days after parent of one the students tested positive for coronavirus on Monday.

The health authorities swung into action on Tuesday after they received reports that a private school in Noida had asked parents to take their kids home since some children had attended a birthday party organised by the person who was on Monday tested positive for coronavirus.

Amid scare, the health authorities said the building was being sanitised and blood samples of five families have been sent for examination. A health department team led by Chief Medical Officer, Noida, reached the school around 11.45 am to inspect the situation.

Dr Anurag Bharghav said he reached the Noida school as soon as the department received the reports. "The school building is being sanitised and blood tests of five families have been sent for examination," the CMO said.

Bharghav said that the five families had attended the birthday party, which was hosted by the man who tested positive for coronavirus on Monday. Bharghav added that the man had found out that he was infected with coronavirus only after the birthday party.

The health official also requested people not to pay any heed to rumours and added that the school will be reopened once the building is sanitised.

SCHOOL POSTPONES EXAMS

The Noida school has also postponed examinations after the father of a student tested positive for coronavirus. In a communication to the parents sent early Tuesday morning, the school said it was postponing the examinations due to "unavoidable circumstances" but the board examination will continue.

The school said it will remain closed from March 4 to March 6. It added that "all learning spaces in the school campus, as well as the school buses, are being fumigated and sanitised completely and thoroughly".

The school added: "We request the parents with children in the following forms and buses to take additional precaution and seek immediate medical attention in case child reports any symptom of cough/cold."

SECOND NOIDA SCHOOL SHUT

Meanwhile, another school in Noida shut on Tuesday in the wake of a Delhi resident testing positive for coronavirus.

"In the wake of the worldwide spread of coronavirus, it has been decided to close the school until March 9 to sanitise spaces and remove all scope for the spread of the virus," the school's principal wrote in an email to parents. The school principal said that the closure was precautionary and aimed at giving management the time and steps to take preventive measures.

According to the mail, the school is planning to take steps such as fumigating the building and sensitising of staff. The principal added that there was no need to panic and advised parents to stay alert and take due precautions.

FAMILY OF CORONAVIRUS PATIENT SHIFTED TO SAFDARJUNG HOSPITAL

Some family members of the Delhi-based man, who has tested positive for the coronavirus, have been shifted to Safdarjung Hospital for tests after they showed symptoms of the virus, Health Ministry sources were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Some other relatives were asked to stay quarantined at their houses only, the sources added.

One of the accountants working for the man, who lives in Mayur Vihar, and some of his relatives have also been shifted to Safdarjung Hospital for tests, they said. Contact tracing for the virus was underway, the sources added.

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