The Delhi government on Thursday declared the coronavirus outbreak an epidemic and shut all cinema halls, schools and colleges, except those where exams are on, till March 31.

The government also made it compulsory to disinfect daily all public places, including government and private offices and shopping malls.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting attended by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal and top government officials.

The chief minister said the Delhi government was making arrangements for quarantine facilities at vacant flats owned by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and under-construction hospitals.

'All cinema halls will remain shut till March 31. Also, all schools and colleges, except those where exams are being held, will remain shut till March 31 due to the outbreak. The government has declared it an epidemic,' he said.

Kejriwal said his government was fully prepared to deal with the outbreak, asserting that more than 500 beds in hospitals are ready to admit coronavirus patients if needed.

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