Srinagar: Asserting that apprehensions about some people not disclosing actual travel history poses serious threat to public health, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said on Tuesday that the district administration is putting in place elaborate arrangements as part of its preparedness to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.
Dr Shahid urged people to voluntarily report their travel history at the airport.
Meanwhile, District administration Baramulla has established round-the-clock helpline to disseminate information and awareness among the people about the novel coronavirus.
“There are apprehensions about some people not disclosing their complete travel history which makes the job cumbersome and poses a serious threat. Regular announcements are being done at airport requesting people to come clean on their travel history,” Dr Shahid wrote twitter.
An official said that the administration has beefed up the screening arrangements at the airport, where five help-desks having been set up with strengthened support staff. All arrivals, including international and domestic travelers are being screened before allowing them to proceed to their respective destinations,” he said.
He said special announcements and outreach efforts are being made at the airport in order to ensure that no one escapes the screening process. “Similar arrangements are being made at the railway station to identify those requiring screening and quarantining,” he said.
The suspected cases will be shifted to quarantine facilities which have been set up across the district. These facilities have been set up at different private hospitals and nursing homes in addition to healthcare centres located in different health zones of the district.
The private hospitals and nursing homes where quarantine facilities have been established include Noora Hospital at HMT, Khyber Hospital at Khayam, Kidney Hospital at Sonwar, Ramzana Hospital at Gogji Bagh, Modern Hospital at Rajbagh, Sheikh ul Alam Hospital at Karan Nagar, Mubarik Hospital at Hyderpora, Florence Hospital at Chanpora, Shifa Medical Centre at Magarmal Bagh, Ahmad Hospital at Nowgam, Star Hospital at Nowgam and New City Hospital at Tengpora.
Other healthcare facilities where quarantine facilities have been set up include MMC Sanatnagar, PHC Chanpora, MMC Noorbagh, JLNM Hospital Rainawari and Trauma Hospital Lawaypora.
Twelve hotels located at two different areas have also been earmarked as quarantine facilities to be used if the necessity arises.
The administration has also set up isolation facilities where those affected or have tested positive will be admitted for treatment. These have been set up at SKIMS Soura, SMHS, CD Hospital and SKIMS Bemina.