COVID-19: BCI Advises All State Bar Councils To Close Their Offices Till March 31 [Read Circular]

Stating that isolation of persons suffering/ suspected to be suffering from the Coronavirus is crucial to prevent the disease from spreading, the Council said,

"Any gathering, conglomeration of people is therefore best avoided to prevent the spread of the COVID 19…

Thus, in view of the above as a precautionary measure, all State Bar Councils are advised to close/ shut their offices till 31.3.2020 and await further circular/ advisory on this issue."

Taking cue from various government notifications issued in this behalf, the advisory intimates that a person with fever, cough, shortness of breath during the 14 days prior to symptoms onset or a person with acute respiratory illness and having been in contact with the COVID 19 case in the last 14 days prior to onset of symptoms is a person falling in the category of high risk.

Thus, the Council has urged everyone to observe "social-distancing".

The total number of reported positive cases of COVID-19 has reached 137 in India. In order to keep the number from increasing, both the central as well as the state governments have been issuing health advisories.

The government has urged the people to avoid overcrowding and has closed all educational institutions, gyms, museums, theatres, pools, etc. till March 31.

The Supreme Court and various High Courts have also resorted to restricted functioning, in a bid to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus.

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