All schools and colleges in India’s financial capital Mumbai will be closed for a week from tomorrow to prevent the spread of swine flu.
Shopping centres and multiplex cinemas in Mumbai will also remain shut for three days after 11 people in Maharashtra lost their lives to the H1N1 virus.
“The government has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the city from tomorrow until August 20th,” a state government official said.
“Similarly, malls, theatres and multiplexes shall be closed for three days from tomorrow as a precaution.” Many private schools in the state have already shut for today and tomorrow. The next few days until Sunday are official holidays.
However, other business and commercial establishments were unsure whether they would continue to function as normal, an Indian news channel reported.
Over the past 12 hours, four more deaths have been reported in the state, taking the toll up to 11. The first death in the country occurred on August 3. Since then the total death toll has risen to 17.
Agencies