Srinagar, Sept 2: Life remained affected for the 5th day on Wednesday in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal, where camps were organised to intensify testing for COVID-19 in Red-Zones including Wayiloo and Bamloora.
In these areas announcements were made through the public addressing system mounted on vehicles appealing people to get tested at these camps, an official spokesman said adding police has registered three FIRs against shopkeepers for violating COVID-19 norms on Tuesday.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads in the district. However, private vehicles were plying. Trucks and other vehicles were also plying on the Srinagar-Leh national highway passing through the district.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ganderbal Khalil Poswal said since the people have been found absolutely non-cooperative, police registered three First Information Report (FIR) against eight shopkeepers for violating COVID-19 lockdown normal in the district, where 34 positive cases were registered yesterday, 16 more than Monday. Appealing people to follow Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) he said there is need to understand such lockdowns are intended for their safety.
The District Magistrate (DM) Shafkat Iqbal has imposed fresh lockdown for eight days from August 29 following continuous surge in the number of COVID-19 positive cases. He exhorted upon the people not to step out of their homes unless absolutely necessary. However, he said, if you have to move out for unavoidable reasons, ensure that you wear masks and practice of social distancing, personnel hygiene and frequent hand washing.
However, the DM announced relaxations for medical emergencies and other essential services only during the lockdown period.
Meanwhle, the directions of DM, the district Administration organised COVID-19 testing camps in various areas of the district on Tuesday.The camps were organised to intensify testing for COVID-19 in the district especially in Red-Zones including Wayiloo and Bamloora. In these areas announcements were made through the public addressing system mounted on vehicles appealing people to get tested at these camps.
To have a firsthand appraisal of the progress in these camps, the DM visited the COVID-19 testing camp at Wayil where he inspected the sample collection and testing process. On the occasion, the DC appealed to the people to extend full cooperation to the administration during the COVID-19 testing. He said that the sampling and testing process will be most beneficial in curbing the community transmission of infection. It was informed that 300 tests were done during these camps out of which 14 samples were found positive.
Meanwhile, the DC directed the concerned health officials to strictly adhere to COVID-19 SOPs while collecting the samples, especially maintaining social distance, terming it the best way to prevent transmission of virus.
