ISLAMABAD: A university and a college were sealed in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad after new coronavirus infections were reported on their campuses, officials said.

Schools and colleges were closed in March when the government enforced a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. Authorities started lifting strict curbs in May and last month allowed almost all businesses and the tourism sector to reopen.

Earlier this month, the Pakistani government announced it would be allowing the “phased” reopening of all educational institutions from September 15.

“In order to prevent community spread of virus, the campus and hostel of National University of Modern Languages (NUML) are hereby sealed with immediate effect in larger public interest and until; further orders,” a statement by the Islamabad administration said following reports of two positive coronavirus cases on campus.

In a separate handout, the administration also announced the closure of the Pak Turk Maarif International School and College, adding that a “case/cases of COVID-19 have been reported” on the premises.

The statement added that orders had been issued to disinfect the properties based on guidelines of the ministry of health and test all ‘exposed’ staff and students.

Last week the Pakistan government announced that middle schools across the country would resume regular classes as scheduled from September 23, despite coronavirus cases being detected in educational institutes around the country in the past two weeks.