Chandigarh: Government schools to double up as isolation centres

CHANDIGARH: Government schools in the city are being prepared to be used as quarantine centres. Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) south had recently written to the UT education department asking them to keep schools ready so that these could be used as quarantine centres. A list of various facilities needed in the government schools have also been shared with the department.
The schools have been told to shift benches in classrooms on the ground floor and to keep the classrooms ready for use “at a very short notice”.
According to the letter issued to the education department, schools heads have also been asked to ensure that all the electrical fittings like fans, bulbs, tube lights etc are in working condition and daily cleaning of washrooms.
Besides this, schools have also been told to ensure that the doors of the classrooms and washrooms are in place and lockable, availability of portable water and working condition of water filters and water coolers.
The letter sent by the SDM South was subjected as “Utilisation of all government schools for various purpose due to Covid-19.”
It reads “Government schools may be required for various purpose for instance quarantine centres to meet the exigencies/emergencies that may arise due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, you are requested to issue directions to all the principals and heads of all the government schools to ensure that their schools are kept ready for any such exigency.”