COVID-19: Lockdown to be intensified in Srinagar, says Dr Shahid

‘Will ensure no leakage from Red Zones’
United News of India
Srinagar, Apr 9: Asserting that the ongoing lockdown would be intensified from Friday in view of upward spiral of Coronavirus cases in Srinagar, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on Thursday said the administration will ensure that there is no leakage from ‘Red Zones’.
Dr Shahid also sought support of people to combat the spread of Coronavirus, saying that some 800 people, who didn’t disclose their travel history, were traced by a robust contact tracing mechanism. “Had they come forward earlier, perhaps the situation would not have been same at we are in today. One positive COVID-19 case can affect upto 100 person and then it leads to a chain,” Dr Shahid, who was flanked by SSP, Srinagar, Dr Haseeb Mughal, told a news conference here.
He said the movement of people will be regulated through passes, with one pass valid only for one person. “The lockdown is being intensified and even inter-district movement will be barred,” he added.
The DC said that as per the plan framed by the government, 25 zonal committees, involving designated zonal officers and locals of the particular areas, have been set-up across Srinagar to ensure smooth delivery of services and essential supplies. “There would be 5000 government officials on ground to address the issues people are confronted with in their respective areas,” he added.
He said a call center is also being set up today for responding to public queries and even receiving information on contact tracing or travel history.
He said given the fact that Srinagar is a congested city, the administration has declared 14 Red Zones. “All the entry points in these areas have been sealed barring a few which are meant to facilitate employees on essential duty and to ensure supply of essentials,” he added.
Fourteen congested areas in Srinagar were declared as ‘Red Zones’ after many positive COVID-19 cases were reported from them. As many as 24 persons were on Thursday tested positive for Coronavirus in Kashmir, taking the total number of infected people to 184 in the Union Territory of J&K.
Meanwhile, he urged religious leaders and elderly people to persuade other not to venture out and to adhere to the guidelines laid by the government that are aimed at preventing the spread of the pandemic.
The DC said that more than 11000 non-local labourers, who are in Kashmir, are being provided with the free food.

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