All educational institutes to be closed till March 31: Andhra Education Minister

In the wake of coronavirus scare, Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh on Thursday announced that all educational institutions will be closed till March 31.

"All educational institutes in the state will be closed till March 31 to prevent and contain the spread of coronavirus," Suresh said.

He also said, "The order has also been issued to close all colleges and universities, including private universities, deemed universities and central institutes."

All hostels will also be shut down and the students have been asked to go to their hometowns, he added.

The Education Minister also said that the exams, including the Class 10 and 12 board exams, which were already scheduled, will continue.

"However, all students will be seated at a distance from each other and the students with cold or fever will be allowed to write exams in special rooms," he added.

The minister said that action will be taken on the schools and tuition centres if they are found flouting the rules.

He also said that an inter-departmental committee has been formed on the matter of COVID 19.

So far, a total of 169 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the country.

Three persons have died from the disease.