Precious Kashmir

COVID-19 prevention: Govt issues guidelines for “Red Zones”

Front

14/04/2020

COVID-19 prevention: Govt issues guidelines for “Red Zones”

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 14: Jammu and Kashmir Government today issued guidelines (SOPs) to be followed in the areas declared as COVID-19 “Red Zones” in the union territory of J&K for delivery of essential supplies, services and to curb the spread of community transmission by enforcing restrictions already imposed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been notified in an order issued by Chief Secretary, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, in exercise of powers conferred upon him, in the capacity as the Chairperson of State Executive Committee, under Section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

As per the order, areas with a significant number of cases or where there is suspicion of cluster transmission, based on assessment by DC & CMO, with the advice of the SP as well, will be declared as ‘RED ZONES’ by Deputy Commissioner concerned. The mapping (size of perimeter) of Red Zone shall be done depending upon size of habitation, geographic distribution of +ve cases, proximity to other habitations, accessibility, geographical barriers, mobility of COVID +ve person, etc. Intelligent demarcation of boundaries of the Red Zone will be done using roads, natural barriers, etc.

The Red Zone will see a 100% lockdown and shall be completely sealed for any movement across its boundaries. No outward or inward movement would be allowed. As far as possible, there shall be only one opening to the red zone to be manned by Naka party and Magistrate. Stickers indicating Red Zone would be present at the point of entry / exit. The only movement across the red zone boundaries would be for supplies (medical, grocery, vegetables), medical emergencies, fumigation/sanitation, and enforcement/survey personnel.

All entry and exit to the zone would be with red zone passes and proper fumigation of vehicles, safety of personnel and safety tunnels. Surrounding villages/ habitations will be declared as Buffer Zones.

The entire Red Zone will be under surveillance and the people will be contacted periodically for rechecking for symptoms. There would be a 100% survey and screening of all persons in the red zone. The Surveillance procedure has already been issued and will be reissued with improvements. The results of survey shall be integrated with ‘Aarogya Setu’ as much as possible. There would be intensive testing of all contacts (already being done), of neighbours and of all those with symptoms. In addition, there would be random sampling testing. A detailed health screening of the contacts and all souls within 300m will be carried out, the survey results would be geo-mapped.

As load increases, doctors will not have time to do contact tracing. Therefore separate teams will be constituted for contact tracing, so that the doctors can handle medical load.

Tehsildar or other suitable officer will be overall administrator of concerned Red Zone. He will be assisted by Tehsil Supply Officer, Tehsil Social Welfare Officer, Jr. Engineer (PDD/PHE), Pharmacists, to provide essential services, food, medicines etc. System of passes for essential services or emergency will be set up and all necessary precautions before entering/leaving red zones shall be followed.

Dedicated Control Rooms shall be established for all Red Zones individually or in groups depending upon size of the Red Zone which can also be integrated with helpline/Call centre to address the needs of residents. Designated officers will ensure provision of essential commodities while taking necessary precautions and using protective gear.

All common/public places within the red zone will be fumigated twice a day. All ambulances on duty / supply vehicles entering / leaving the red zone shall be fumigated. Extra cleanliness drives all around shall be carried. Departments like PDD and PHE will ensure regular electricity and water supply respectively to the red zone.They will activate helplines to address any complaints on priority- or common control room as above can be used. Banking arrangements such a mobile ATM or any other facilitation will be ensured

In-case of any emergency, whether medical or otherwise, permission for movement will be provided by concerned SDM / Tehsildar. A medical team shall be placed in the adjoining buffer zone to cater to any medical emergency that might arise.

In case of a medical emergency requiring hospitalisation, the same shall be certified by the concerned BMO and the patient along with one attendant only should be duly red stamped and then shifted in ambulance for further treatment. For Non-Covid medical treatment, DCs will make some parallel arrangements in select locations, particularly for issues such as dialysis and pregnancies.

All frontline staff especially medical personnel will be protected from violence and cared for. No Lawlessness will be tolerated. Vehicles will be allotted for Medical staff movement. If necessary vehicles will be withdrawn from others. Protection gear as prescribed for staff working in red zones will be provided. Medical staff handling suspects/ attending patients will be provided with PPE’s. There will be dedicated staff/ ambulance and PPEs to shift patients to Administrative Quarantine/ Hospitals.

Volunteers will be roped in for assistance and for ensuring home deliveries, to also be motivated to ensure that no movement / gathering takes place inside red zone, to create database of influencers in the village like religious leaders, Govt. servants PRI members and utilize them in spreading awareness and ensuring total lockdown.

Panchayat COVID AMCs will be used for surveillance, mask promotion, welfare measures.

To resolve grievances quickly an effective mechanism under a local officer will be set up. High Degree of Communication will be maintained. All important Information will be publicised regularly through electronic and social media for sensitization of all and Queries shall be answered. Announcements will be made through PA Systems on DOs & DONTs, advise to stay at home, social distancing, hand hygiene. Pamphlets will be distributed during surveillance/ door to door survey by surveillance teams.

For ensuring general safety and other measures, universal usage of face masks shall be ensured in the red zone village/ areas and Ayush medicines will be promoted for immunity enhancement.

Cyber Police arrest youth for posting fake picture on FB page

Front

Precious Kashmir

14/04/2020

Cyber Police arrest youth for posting fake picture on FB page

KINS

Srinagar Apr 14: Cyber Police on Tuesday arrested a youth who had posted a “fake picture” on his Facebook page showing Pakistan flag hoisted at Lalchowk here .

SP Cyber Police Tahir Ashraf confirmed the arrest. “The person had posted a fake picture on his Facebook page showing Pakistani flag. We have arrested him and registered an FIR,” he told KINS.

He said that people should refrain from sharing fake videos, photos and false news. “We will not hesitate to take action against people who share fake news and indulge in rumour mongering,” he added.

Tahir Ashraf said that Cyber police is facing a massive challenge that of dealing with the “rumour mongers and fake account holders” who spread fake messages through social media with an aim to mislead people on various issues.

“We are monitoring everything what is going on in the social media. We try our best to stop the fake information in the current situation. We instantly block fake accounts and that’s not so easy,” Ashraf said.

He also appealed the people to cooperate and inform Cyber Police if someone is spreading the fake information.

Ashraf revealed that few more people involved in spreading fake news have been identified and they will be arrested soon.

Govt constitutes Task Force to restore economic activity in JK

Front

Ejaz-ul- haq Bhat

14/04/2020

Govt constitutes Task Force to restore economic activity in JK

Ejaz-ul-haq Bhat

Srinagar, Apr 14: Government on Tuesday constituted a task force to restore economic activity and employment process in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir at a time when battle for prevention of COVID -19 pandemic is in a full swing.

Officials told Kashmir News Observer that the task force will be headed by financial commissioner, finance department and will comprise of seven other members from different departments.

As per the order the task force will submit the recommendations by May 30. “The Terms of the reference of the Task Force shall be to develop a strategy/action plan for restoring normal economic activities in all sectors in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” reads the order. It also reads that the task force will also develop a package for assistance to Industry/Agriculture/Horticulture/Animal Husbandry sectors to ensure their normal functioning.

“To finalize a time bound plan for recruitment to government job vacancies at different levels along with the processes to be followed for early recruitment, keeping in mind the fiscal balance and monitor the recruitment process,” the order further reads

Corona ten times deadlier than swine flu: WHO

National

Precious Kashmir

14/04/2020

Corona ten times deadlier than swine flu: WHO

Precious Kashmir Desk
Srinagar, Apr 14: World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the COVID-19, which originated in China’s Wuhan last year, is 10 times deadlier than the swine flu.

“Evidence from several countries is giving us a clearer picture about this virus, how it behaves, how to stop it and how to treat it. We know that COVID-19 spreads fast, and we know that it is deadly – 10 times deadlier than the 2009 flu pandemic,” said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

He also urged that control measures must be lifted “slowly and with control”.

“It cannot happen all at once. Control measures can only be lifted if the right public health measures are in place, including the significant capacity for contact tracing,” he said.

The WHO DG stressed that countries must strike a balance between measures that address the mortality caused by COVID-19, and by other diseases due to overwhelmed health systems, as well as the social-economic impacts.

“As the pandemic has spread, its public health and socioeconomic impacts have been profound, and have disproportionately affected the vulnerable. Many populations have already experienced a lack of access to routine, essential health services,” the chief of UN Health Body said.

3 COVID -19 positive patients cured in Bandipora

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

14/04/2020

Srinagar, Apr 14: Bandipora administration on Tuesday discharged three more persons from quarantine after their tests came negative. The trio had been tested positive earlier and were kept into 24×7 monitoring by doctors.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), three more Covid-19 patients of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district have been discharged from quarantine centre after proper treatment and recovery.

“The trio had earlier tested positive and had been kept into quarantine centre where medical teams monitored them 24×7 and with the grace of Almighty Allah, all recuperated and recovered”, an official told KNS.

He added in entire district, the number of recovered Covid-19 patients has reached to 5.

Govt sets up COVID-19 helpline

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

14/04/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Apr 14: The government today established a dedicated helpline/helpdesk which will look after all the issues, grievances, complaints and other matters related to COVID 19 particularly in the Kashmir division.

The facility was set up on the directions of Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Baseer Ahmad Khan, who is overall in-charge of coronavirus control efforts in Kashmir, in his office which will address all the COVID-19 related matters on priority.

Two officers, Syed Farooq Ahmad (7006776586) and Anil Gupta (9797776541), have been detailed for the helpline/helpdesk which can be reached at 0191-2549353 or [email protected]

The helpline/helpdesk can also be approached for redressal of administrative, collaborative and coordination matters by all the concerned.

DGP Singh finalizes Durbar Move arrangements

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

14/04/2020

DGP Singh finalizes Durbar Move arrangements

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 14: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Tuesday finalized the arrangements and preparedness regarding the annual Durbar Move-2020 in a meeting here at Police Headquarters.

During the meeting, the officers of Summer capital of Union Territory are directed to prepare a list of officers and officials who will move to the Srinagar.

The DGP directed the officers to take all the precaution/measures in sanitizing and decontaminating the office buildings at Srinagar.

He directed that the required accommodation for the employees should be readied well in advance in accordance with the health protocols.

He said in view of COVID -19 all the employees who travel from different districts have to be accommodated in the Srinagar city itself in view of the advisories issued in this regard.

The DGP directed the officers of different police wings to prepare the move officials list and share it with the PHQ so that formal orders are issued accordingly. He directed the officers to prepare for the functioning of offices at Jammu and Srinagar both simultaneously till further orders.

During the meeting the DGP also reviewed the health safety measures being adopted by the Police personnel performing duties on ground. He said that adequate masks, sanitizers and protective gears are available with all wings of Police.

He appreciated the role of J&K Police welfare centres and other units in fabricating these articles in large numbers.

During the meeting the officers gave briefing about the preparations made and precautions taken by their wings and units with regard to annual darbar move and COVID-19 pandemic in their respective wings and offices.

Kupwara: Uneasy calm along LoC as guns fall silent

Jammu & Kashmir

United News Of India

14/04/2020

Kupwara: Uneasy calm along LoC as guns fall silent

United News of India
Srinagar, Apr 14: An eerie silence prevailed along the Line of Control (LoC) as Pakistani mortar guns remained quiet during the last 48 hours in north Kashmir, where ceasefire violation from the other side has forced some residents of frontier villages to flee to safer places.

Three civilians, including a woman and child, were killed on Sunday when Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked heavy shelling and firing from across the LoC in frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara. This was first time that civilians were killed during Pakistani shelling deep inside Kupwara.

Despite Pakistani guns fell silent since Sunday afternoon, people are reluctant to go back to their homes. Meanwhile, the residents of affected areas, who didn’t leave, are praying for peace and demanded construction of bunkers.

The villagers said that it was the heaviest shelling by Pak troops in the area since ceasefire agreed by India and Pakistan in 2003 on LoC and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir. “This was the first time that shells have fallen deep inside Kupwara villages,” they said.

Five heavily-armed militants and as many soldiers were killed in an encounter which ensued after alert troops foiled a major infiltration bid from PaK in Keran sector on April 5.

Official sources said that Pakistan troops are violating ceasefire to facilitate militants to infiltrate into Kashmir valley. “A large number of militants are waiting at launch pads in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) to sneak into this side,” they said.

However, they said despite facing all odds, Indian troops remained on high alert along the Line of Control (LoC) to foil any militant attempt to infiltrate into this side.

Life And Living

Edit

Precious Kashmir

14/04/2020

On predicted lines, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced extension of the lockdown until May 3. The announcement was made as 21-day lockdown comes to end while the novel coronavirus cases in India surpassed ten thousand and deaths count nears 400-mark.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the lockdown now nears a month and this period has seen cases of COVID-19 rise from single-digit last month to nearly 300 now. The invisible assassin has already claimed its four victims—three in Kashmir Valley and one in Jammu.
The choice for the Prime Minister now was the same as on March 24 last when his government decided to impose the lockdown and it was between saving lives and ensuring livelihoods. The government has chosen the former. It also reflected in his address: “From an economic only point of view, it undoubtedly looks costly right now but measured against the lives of Indian citizens, there is no comparison itself.”
Many people call it a right step given the macabre across the globe due to the dreaded disease which scientists are finding very difficult to conquer in the time synonymous to Information Age—an era marked by the rapid adoption of new technologies.
While correctness or otherwise of the decision will be revealed by time itself which surely is not distant but the lockdown has already caused the serious damage to livelihoods and it is already starting to make itself apparent. In the context of Jammu and Kashmir, the damage is more prominent. The lockdown comes at a time when the economy of the Jammu and Kashmir was already in doldrums due to the events which unfolded last year. Some sectors such as tourism and allied segments are so badly shattered that it may take years to revive and that too when the situation remains conducive. The disappointment and worries are writ large on faces of artisans, shikarwalas, small and big traders alike. Lives could be lost to varied reasons and hunger may be among them as livelihoods are sacrificed in the lockdown. The present crisis is without precedent and the solutions to it cannot be conservative. Rather it entails out-of-the-box ideas for delivering support and raising the required funds.
Beyond doubt, a substantial economic relief package is needed which must be generous in the financial commitment and the spread to suffice need of the moment. Importantly, it shall be quickly delivered.

Clamour to restore 4G internet in JK grows as online classes commence in other States, UTs

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

14/04/2020

Clamour to restore 4G internet in JK grows as online classes commence in other States, UTs

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Apr 13: The clamour for restoration of 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir is growing as the States and the Union Territories across the country have started online classes for the students.
Last week Supreme Court issued a notice to J&K Government to provide the status report about the 4G internet services in J&K within one week. After the intervention of the Apex Court people are hoping that restrictions on high speed internet may go. “In Kashmir also many private schools have started online classes. But the students are unable to access these due to internet speed being slow,” said a teacher of a private school.
He said that online classes are the only way through which schools can reach the students amidst the ongoing lockdown. “It’s unfortunate that schools in Kashmir have been closed for the past eight months,” the teacher added.
It’s in place to mention here that schools and other educational institutions were closed in Kashmir on August 5, 2019, when Centre announced its decision to abrogate J&K’s special status and bifurcated the erstwhile State into two Union Territories. The 4G internet services were snapped on the same day and since then these have remained suspended. Schools reopened for a few days in last week of February this year but were closed again in March due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Kashmir.
An official said, “Though officially no announcement has been made about increasing the internet speed but the speed has been increased for students to access the online classes.”
He said, “The restoration of 4G internet is under consideration but it cannot be restored till security agencies give a go ahead. The administration is awake to the problems faced by the people but no one wants to take any chance at this point of time.”
An analyst said, “The government should reconsider its decision on keeping the high speed internet blocked. At this point of time everyone is confined within four walls of his home. There are very bleak possibilities about elements inimical to peace using the internet to spark any protest or asking people to assemble at one place.”
He said, “Not everyone in Kashmir has got fixed line connections. Mostly people use mobile phones to access the internet. Not only school students, the aspirants preparing for civil services examinations too are facing many problems as they had enrolled themselves for the online courses, which they are unable to access.”

1...4,9514,9524,953...5,073 Page 4,952 of 5,073