Punjab schools closed for 4 days amid pinkeye infection outbreak

Punjab schools have been closed for 4 days amid the pinkeye infection outbreak!

On Wednesday, the Punjab government announced closing all private and government educational institutions across the province from Thursday to Sunday due to a conjunctivitis outbreak.

“In the wake of the spread of Conjunctivitis / Pink Eye Infection 141 among school kids, Competent Authority is pleased to announce that all Public and Private Schools of the Province shall remain closed from Thursday 28-09-2023 till Sunday 01-10-2023,” reads the official notification.

The notification further added that all schools will reopen on Monday and observe the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to curb the spread of pink eye infection.

“All Chief Executive Officers (DEAs) in Punjab are directed to ensure compliance of the orders,” it added.

The decision is reported to have been made after caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday visited a government school in Lahore.

He expressed annoyance over the presence of students affected by conjunctivitis.

Speaking to the media after visiting the school, CM Naqvi said conjunctivitis is spreading rapidly in schools and six to seven children in each class were found affected by conjunctivitis.

He said SOPs will be strictly implemented from Monday in all educational institutions across the province under which teachers will inspect the eyes of every child at the school entrance.

The outbreak of pinkeye infection (conjunctivitis) continues to afflict Punjab.

The state-run hospitals across the province have reported 500-600 patients, with Lahore topping the list among other districts.

A large number of school-going children have been complaining of eye infections, mainly because they are not adhering to precautions at school.