KHYBER: The district administration closed two government schools in Jamrud after at least 40 teachers and students got infected with coronavirus on Monday.

A statement issued from the office of the Khyber deputy commissioner said Government High School No 2 and Government Shaheed Abdul Azam Higher Secondary School in Jamrud had been closed on the recommendations of the local health authorities after the infections emerged.

They said the health authorities had conducted swab tests of a number of teaching staff and students.

The statement said both the educational institutions would remain closed for at least five days as per the coronavirus-induced SOPs.

Local education officials said though all schools and colleges had been closed in Khyber as per the federal government decision on Nov 26, but students of different classes were required to come to the schools once a week to take home task as the institutions were not offering online classes due to suspension of mobile Internet service in the region.

They said a total of 127 residents in different parts of Khyber had tested positive for Covid-19 during the second wave of the deadly virus.

Most of the infected persons were advised to isolate themselves at homes. Besides, special Covid-19 wards had also been reactivated in hospitals in Bara, Landi Kotal and Jamrud.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2020