Srinagar, District magistrate Baramulla has ordered closure of all banks in the district for Friday to ensure social distances as crowds were recently seen thronging bank branches in violation of the prohibitory orders.

DM Baramulla, G.N.Itoo passed an order that no bank branch will function in the district today.

"The order has been passed to ensure compliance of social distances which we have noticed is not followed when people visit different branches of the bank.

"Of course it is a warning and unless the people and the bank management ensure compliance there could be more restrictions in the offing", officials said.

The surfacing of COVID-19 positive cases has surged during the last two days in Kashmir division.

Yesterday, 24 new cases came to light while 34 surfaced on Wednesday.

Alarmed by the rising numbers of positive cases, DM Srinagar has ordered complete sealing of the district disallowing all entry and exit except of those directly engaged in fighting the outbreak.

The total number of positive cases has shot up to 184 in J&K.