Punjab shuts schools over rising cases of pink eye infection

LAHORE: The government of Punjab has decided to shut down schools across the province on Thursday (tomorrow) due to the rising number of pink eye cases.

Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi’s surprise visit to Government Girls High School Ravi Road. Despite government instructions, male and female students suffering from conjunctivitis were present in schools.

The chief expressed his displeasure and summoned the school secretary.  He issued directives to give Thursday and Saturday as a holiday in private and government schools. The students complained about the lack of electricity and fans in the school.

A public holiday has been ordered in private and government schools tomorrow on Thursday. Schools will remain closed on Friday due to Eid Milad-un-Nabi

After the weekly holiday on Saturday and Sunday, the school will open again on Monday On Monday morning, teachers will check children outside all schools at the time of admission. Children who complained of conjunctivitis will be sent back home. The holiday will apply to the entire province.

Earlier, the Punjab government issued an alert for schools across the province as it has registered increase in cases of pink eye infection.

The Schools Education Authority has directed the schools to organize a ‘zero period’ to educate students about the infection and ways to stop the spread of it. It has asked the school teachers to explain the causes of the infection and precautionary measures during the zero period.

The health department has already issued safety guidelines to deal with the disease. The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department in Punjab has issued an advisory as cases of pink eye infection continue to surge in various cities across the province.

The department said it is a viral disease that spreads through coughing, sneezing, and touching hands, adding that it took eight to ten days to recover from it. The infection caused higher tear production, pain in the eye, redness, and itching. It asked people to use any eye drop after consultation with doctors. 

Lahore witnessed a surge in the number of patients infected with conjunctivitis — an inflammation of the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball — after the infection affected several cities of Sindh, including Karachi.

The Health Department has also issued guidelines to all district authorities. It has advised the use of hand sanitizer besides asking people not to touch their eyes without washing their hands.