COVID-19: After Odisha, WB Shuts Down All Schools, Colleges from March 16-31

Kolkata: Taking a cue from Odisha and other States, the West Bengal Government annonunced the closure of all schools and colleges from March 16 to 31 amid COVID-19 scare.

“All govt, govt aided, private educational institutions – schools, colleges, universities, madarsahs, Sishu Shiksha Kendra & Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra will remain closed from 16th to 31st March. Board examinations will be held as per schedule”, an official statement issued by the West Bengal Government said.

Earlier on Friday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced in the State Assembly that all schools and educational institutions shall remain closed till March 31 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A similar decision has also been taken by Delhi, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, UP, Punjab, Bihar and Manipur.

Meanwhile, the number of novel coronavirus cases in the country rose to 85 on Saturday.