Sindh Health Department on Thursday issued an advisory for educational institutions on how to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the province.

According to the advisory, any student or employee of any public or private school, college or university who has arrived in Pakistan in the last fifteen days from abroad must not go to their school or college or university until they complete 14 days stay in their home after arrival in Pakistan as a measure of quarantine.

All parents shall inform the concerned institutes if there is a history of travel of a family member.

Any student, family or employee of any public or private school, college or university of Sindh province who is having cough or body ache or fever or shortness of breath or flu must not be allowed to enter the premises of the educational institution.

Moreover, any employee of public or private school, college or university who is having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma must avoid attending school, college or university. They are advised to remain at their home.

All students and employees of public and private schools, colleges and universities must avoid gatherings and crowded places. There should be space of at least one meter (about three feet) between adjacent seating at all the institutes.

All must perform hand hygiene frequently with soap and water or with a hand sanitizer.

The advisory asked the students to cover their nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing with their flexed elbow or use a tissue paper and to dispose of the tissue paper immediately after use and to avoid spitting and avoid touching their face.

There should be a health desk for health education, screening and awareness regarding COVID-19 to be established by students and employees of public and private schools, colleges and universities.

The deputy commissioner concerned, as per provisions under the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014, may exercise his authority to ensure all these preventive measures for preventing COVID-19 from spreading.