Forty students from various European countries have been quarantined on the campus of International Sahaja Public School at Naddi village near Dharamsala, in Himachal Pradesh amid coronavirus scare. The batch of 40 students returned from their native countries after their winter vacation got over about a week ago.
Coronavirus40 students from Europe quarantined in HP
Kangra Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar Prajapati said, “The district administration met the school authorities on Monday and asked them to ensure that the students remain in self-isolation on the campus.”
He further added, “None of the students have symptoms of coronavirus infection but we have directed the school authorities to ensure that the children should not leave the campus.”
According to Prajapati, another batch of 100 students, who were still to arrive have been asked to stay back till the situation becomes normal.
The residential school that has children from 38 countries besides India in classes 1 to 12 was started in 1990 and is affiliated with the Council for the Indian Certificate School Examinations (ICSE). It has its own medical unit with a full-time doctor and nursing staff. The school term begins in the third week of March and ends in the second half of December.
Some Indian parents complained to the deputy commissioner that the school was conducting classes in violation of the government’s direction, putting the health of their children at risk.
The state government has closed all private and government educational institutions in Himachal Pradesh as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Kangra Deputy Commissioner said that he has sent a team, comprising police and health officials, to the school to check if the authorities are violating the advisory. He assured the parents, “If the school is found conducting classes, it will be stopped.”
When contacted, International Sahaja Public School director Ritesh Manake denied the charge of the parents and said, “We have suspended classes and new registrations have also been put off till April 13. The parents have been informed. We are delaying the session.”
