HYDERABAD: Three colleges — one in Sehwan taluka of Jamshoro district and two in Matiari district — were closed on Thursday after more than two dozen coronavirus-positive cases were reported soon after their reopening.

The affected people appeared to be teaching and non-teaching staff of the educational institutions, according to health and administration officials.

Eight positive cases were confirmed in two colleges of Matiari, said district health officer (DHO) of Matiari Dr Yar Mohammad. They included a principal, he added.

Four cases each emerged in two colleges — the Govt Girls Degree College in Hala, and the Govt College Talibul Maula, Saeedabad.

In the Hala college, the virus-hit patients were an office superintendent, a professor, an assistant professor and a lecturer. In the Saeedabad college, the patients were its principal, a peon, an office assistance and a gardener.

Matiari Deputy Commissioner Ghulam Hyder Chandio ordered closure of both colleges.

DHO said that 18 samples were taken from the colleges on Tuesday (Sept 15) and eight of them emerged coronavirus positive. The test results of 422 samples obtained on Wednesday (Sept 16) were awaited, he added.

Meanwhile, Jamshoro Deputy Commissioner Farid Mustafa ordered sealing of the Govt Boys Degree College, Bhan Syedabad, Sehwan taluka, after 18 positive coronavirus cases among the staff were confirmed on Thursday.

He said that six cases among the staff of the Army Public School, Sehwan, and five among the staff of the Govt Girls High School, Sehwan, were also confirmed.

He said sampling among students had been started in Kotri’s colleges and schools.­

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2020