The Jharkhand government has decided to keep schools and colleges open despite the novel coronavirus scare, unlike neighbour Bihar and many other states spooked by the outbreak that the WHO has classified as a pandemic.

School education and literacy department minister Jagarnath Mahto tweeted a message to this effect on Saturday, saying the chief secretary and health department held a review meeting on the matter. It was decided in the meeting that schools and colleges would run as usual till further orders as no one in Jharkhand has been found affected by the pandemic, the education minister’s message reads.

Chief secretary D.K. Tiwari confirmed the decision. “So far, no decision for closure of schools and colleges has been taken,” Tiwari said.

The coronavirus scare comes at a time when CISCE and CBSE Class X and XII board exams are on. The new academic session for most schools begin in mid-March.

Some institutions have downed their shutters on their own account.

The Central University of Jharkhand suspended its classes till March 31 and asked students to vacate the hostel.

Private schools in Jamshedpur have also unanimously decided to remain closed till March 31 to stay safe from coronavirus outbreak.

Members and principals of the Jharkhand Unaided Private Schools and Educational Institutions met on Saturday at the Kerala Samajam Model School in Golmuri to unanimously decide that they would start the new session from April 1. About 40 principals along with respective members of school managing committees decided the same. Private schools in Jamshedpur were supposed to start their session between March 16 and 19.

“All schools (in Jamshedpur) have unanimously decided to remain closed for safety purposes. We shall open on April 1. Till that time students and teachers will only be allowed on examination days,' said principal of Kerala Samajam Model School, Nandini Shukla.

The decision however comes with certain conditions. Firstly, these schools will delay their summer vacation by a week which means holidays shall start from May 17 instead of May 9. Secondly, schools will have the right to decide on extra classes that suits their schedule.

Most schools in Ranchi have decided to stay open till a directive comes from the state government or the local administration. “Our school starts its new session from April 3. We will function as usual unless there is an order from the government,” said principal of JVM Shyamali, Samarjit Jana.

Schools in Dhanbad have also not decided anything so far.

“We are about to re-open on March 19. So far nothing has been decided. Even if any decision is taken, it will only happen next week,” said Tahira Nazreen, senior school coordinator, De Nobili, Bhuli.

Elsewhere, requests for official closure of schools and colleges continue to pour. “Will request chief minister and education minister to close schools and colleges of the state for some days,” drinking water and sanitation minister Mithilesh Thakur, a JMM MLA, tweeted. BJP leaders such as Babulal Marandi and Sanjay Seth and All School Parents’ Association of Jharkhand have also requested the state government to close all government and private schools as a preventive measure against the coronavirus threat.

A health department official said directives had been given to deputy commissioners of all district to ensure no panic spreads.

“Deputy commissioners across the state have been told prevent panic. The DCs have been asked to create awareness on coronavirus through banners, posters and hoardings. Apart from this, orders have been given to create isolation wards in each district-level hospital,” the official said.