‘Doctors, nurses, susceptible to catch virus in absence of protective gear’
KINS
Srinagar, Apr 8: A day after a nurse tested positive for COVID-19, fear has gripped the medical fraternity in Kashmir.
A nurse, who is working at JVC Bemina tested positive for Coronavirus on Tuesday. An official said the 35-year-old nurse was home quarantined for 18 days. The official said her whole family has been taken to hospital for quarantine.
This was the first case in Kashmir when a staff member of any hospital tested positive. This has created a fear among the medical fraternity.
“We have been saying for last several weeks both doctors and nurses treating COVID-19 patients are not safe. We don’t have proper protective gear,” a nurse at Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
Another nurse from JVC Bemina said: “After it came to fore that the nurse has tested positive for Coronavirus, our families are worried that we might get infected. There is fear among medical staff. Doctors, nurses, and paramedics are susceptible to catch virus in absence of personal protective equipment (PPE),” she added.
He said several doctors have been quarantined after coming in contact with Coronavirus patients as former were not wearing proper protective gear.
Several doctors and nurses of various hospitals who had seen a Coronavirus patient from Hyderpora Srinagar were quarantined. The patient who later died had also visited JVC Bemina.
A doctor at Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura said, “We are reluctant to treat Coronavirus suspect patients in absence of protective gear as we too fear for our lives. If government does not provide doctors protective gear, we will lose doctors before patients.”
Kashmir Nurses Association in a statement said, “In every situation we work among the forefront but unfortunately government has never gravitated a grain of attention towards us. We work in grave risk and ironically we have been deprived of equipments to lessen the odds of the consequences that the risk can toll on us.”
COVID-19: Fear grips medicos after nurse tests positive
PM Modi hints at lockdown extension
‘Situation akin to social emergency, country forced to take tough decisions’
United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 8: Underlining that the situation in the country is akin to a ‘social emergency’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said several state governments, district administrations and experts have asked for extension of lockdown.
Interacting with floor leaders of political parties in Parliament, via video conference, the PM warned that the situation keeps changing continuously and one needs to maintain vigil at all times.
‘The situation in the country is akin to a ‘social emergency’. The country has been forced to take tough decisions, and must continue to remain vigilant,’ the Prime Minister said.
Interacting with the PM, opposition leaders suggested extending the lockdown and on a phased exit after lockdown ends.
They also spoke about economic and other policy measures to boost the country’s capability in this battle against the pandemic. Suggestions were given by the leaders on extending the lockdown and on a phased exit after lockdown ends.
They talked about boosting the health and morale of the healthcare workers, ramping up testing facilities, the need to assist smaller states and UTs and tackling the challenges of hunger and malnutrition. They also spoke about economic and other policy measures to boost the country’s capability in this battle against the pandemic.
Suggestions were given by the leaders on extending the lockdown and on a phased exit after lockdown ends.
While noting that, India has been among the few nations to control the pace of spread of the virus till now, the PM, however, warned that the situation keeps changing continuously and one needs to maintain vigil at all times.
The Prime Minister said the entire world is currently facing the grave challenge of COVID-19, adding that the present situation is an epoch changing event in mankind’s history and we must evolve to counter its impact.
He praised the efforts of state governments working together with the Centre in this fight against the pandemic. He noted that the country has witnessed constructive and positive politics through the coming together of all sections of polity to present a united front in this battle.
PM Modi also praised the sense of belonging, discipline, dedication and commitment with which each and every citizen is contributing in this endeavour, be it in following social distancing, Janta Curfew or the lockdown.
The Prime Minister underlined the impact of the emerging situation, as witnessed in the resource constraints.
The Prime Minister noted that in these changing circumstances, the country should simultaneously try to bring about a change in its work culture and working style.
He said that the priority of the government is saving each and every life. He added that the country is facing serious economic challenges as a result of COVID-19, and the government is committed to overcoming them.
Top officials of the Government of India gave detailed presentations on steps being taken to meet the emerging challenges, including status of distribution of benefits under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana.
The leaders thanked the Prime Minister for the meeting, appreciated the timely measures taken by him and said that the entire country is standing united behind him during the crisis.
PM Modi thanked the leaders for their constructive suggestions and feedback, adding that their commitment to assist the government in this battle reaffirms the democratic foundations of the country and the spirit of cooperative federalism.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, senior officials of Government of India and leaders of political parties from across the country participated in the interaction.
JeM commander killed in Sopore gunfight
Arshad Farooq
Baramulla, Apr 8: A top Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Sopore town in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday
Official said that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint CASO was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K police, Army and CRPF late on Tuesday night in Arampora area in Sopore.
They said security forces conducted searches in the area and deployed additional forces to completely seal the area to foil any attempts by militants to escape. ‘Contact was established with a militant early in the morning,’ they said.
They said the militant was killed in the gunfight and his body has been recovered from the encounter site. ‘The slain militant has been identified as Sajad Nawab Dar, a top JeM commander,’ they said, adding he was active since 2018.
Officials said the militant was involved in recruiting youth to militant ranks in Sopore and adjoining areas. ‘The clearance operation was going on in the encounter site when the reports last came in,’ they added.
Administrative Council approves Houseboat Policy; transfers land for Kendriya Vidyalayas, transit accommodation for Kashmiri Migrant Govt employees
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 8: The Administrative Council (AC) which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, G C Murmu approved policy guidelines for registration/renewal/operation of houseboats in Dal and Nigeen Lake.
The Administrative Council decided that the guidelines should conform to the overall framework of Dal conservation framed by the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) besides, an appropriate legal framework would be also instituted for enforcing the policy.
The decision will help to regulate the functioning and operation of houseboats in both the water bodies and to preserve the lake for future generations by adopting sustainable tourism, preventing pollution of the lake besides, providing conducive and pleasant atmosphere for tourists, on one hand, sustainable source of living for the houseboat owners/shikara wallas and other stake holders on the other hand.
Complying with the directions of the High Court and suggestions made by the Committee of Experts (CoE) on Dal/Nigeen Lake, the Government has taken this step for conservation of the two lakes. This move will also address the environmental concerns and give a further push to the ongoing activities relating to preservation and conservation of the lakes.
Under the guidelines, the houseboats owners will be able to register/renew their houseboats after fulfilling certain general conditions. The guidelines also provides constitution of Advisory Committee to be headed by Director Tourism, Kashmir to identify areas of concern for securing use of houseboats for enhancing tourist influx and Regulatory Committee to look after registration/renewal process and overall regulation of functioning of the houseboats.
As per the policy guidelines, no new houseboat shall be allowed to be constructed in Dal/Nigeen Lake. The provision of categorization of houseboats based on the facilities has also been made in the guidelines.
Land transferred for establishment of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kupwara; Transit accommodation for Kashmiri Migrant Govt employees to be established in Shopian
The Administrative Council (AC) accorded sanction to the transfer of Shamilat (Kahcharai) land measuring 40 kanals situated in village Drugmulla in District Kupwara to the School Education Department for establishing Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kupwara.
The Administrative Council also accorded sanction to the transfer of 40 kanals of land to the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction for establishing transit accommodation for Kashmiri Migrant Government Employees under PM Package in village Deegam in District Shopian.
2 Centres for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training to be set up in J&K
The Administrative Council (AC) also accorded sanction to the establishment of two Centres for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training (CIIIT) in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Centre in Kashmir division shall be established at Government Polytechnic, Baramulla and the location for establishment of CIIIT in Jammu division shall be finalized soon.
The move is aimed at providing skill training to students of Engineering Colleges, Polytechnic Colleges and ITIs besides, the unemployed Engineering Degree/Diploma holders and Engineering Graduates who are employed but in need for career enhancement through up-gradation of latest technological skills.
This project will be an industry-led consortium as a joint venture between Government of J&K and Tata Technologies to facilitate innovation and skill development of students, industry professionals for skill development and creating entrepreneurships.
Through this project, Tata Technologies have proposed to introduce 18 courses and many other subsidiary courses with an annual intake capacity of 2880 students/professionals receiving training and skill development.
Bernie Sanders drops out of 2020 Democratic race for President
Washington, Apr 8: Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont dropped out of the Democratic presidential race on Wednesday, concluding a quest for the White House that began five years ago in relative obscurity but ultimately elevated him as a champion of the working class, a standard-bearer of American liberalism and the leader of a self-styled political revolution.
Mr. Sanders, a self-confessed democratic socialist making his second run for the White House, withdrew after a series of losses to Joseph R. Biden Jr. a former vice-President, who is now the presumptive nominee to take on President Donald Trump in the November election.
Track down absconding travelers: Div Com to DCs
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Apr 8: The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, today, directed all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to track-down all absconding travelers on war footing basis in their respective districts and put them in administrative quarantine.
All Deputy Commissioners were asked to strengthen their ground surveillance teams and trace the absconding recent travelers, of other states and abroad visitors, immediately and put them for proper screening and quarantine.
Additional Deputy Commissioners have been put in-charge of contact tracing and they are following the mechanism as per prescribed Advisory.
The Div Com directed the DDC’s to setup separate helpline numbers for Cancer, Dialysis patients and other serious patients at all district headquarters immediately so that life saving treatment will be ensured for them at an earliest.
He further directed DCs to constitute teams under CMOs who shall visit Juvenile, old age homes and orphanages alternatively for health checkups of the inmates besides establishing separate dedicated helpline numbers for their services in each district.
The Divisional Commissioner passed these directions while chairing a meeting to review preparedness and fool proof arrangements to combat Corona virus disease in the valley.
Div Com sought detailed feedback from all DCs regarding arrangements against COVID-19 pandemic through video conferencing.
The meeting was informed that samples collected from Baramullah, Kupwara, Bandipora, Gamderbal and Budgam are tested at SKIMS Soura and samples collected from Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam are being tested at CD hospital, Dalgate.
Pole directed them to take employees from non-essential departments and deploy them at Block, Tehsil and District level for COVID-19 related emergency tasks. Adequate number of officials will be earmarked for Red Zones, Hospital Isolation, Administrative and Home quarantines which will monitor their smooth functioning. Officials should submit the daily based report to the concerned Deputy Commissioner for further course of necessary action.
He stressed to DCs to enforce lock down and social distancing in letter & spirit. Concerned should maintain high level of vigil and alertness regarding COVID-19 scare across the valley and take quick action against any emergency.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal, Divisional Level OSDs, Owais Ahmad and Aijaz Assad, Director Health Services, Dr. Sameer Matto, Deputy Director, Health Services and other concerned officers were present in the meeting where as nine Deputy Commissioners participate the meeting through video conferencing mode.
Home Quarantine
Globally, many countries including developed ones, are struggling to find ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus as it continues to take great toll on lives as well as economy.
It is proving more challenging for the countries, mainly developing, to allocate stations where people are placed for quarantine. Quarantining people helps to protect the public from pandemic and it proved quite useful against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) recently. However, recently, a number of asymptomatic people, with international travel history, tested positive for the coronavirus disease in Kashmir. While they were identified and kept in a quarantine facility for two weeks, they were discharged in absence of any symptoms and sent home.
Few days later, they were again taken to hospital as one of them in quarantine centre had been found positive for COVID19. What is more surprising is that they tested positive after three weeks of their arrival from Saudi Arabia.
Experts believe that there could be two reasons for them to test positive for disease behind normal schedule. Either the incubation period in these patients has been very long, which is quite rare, or they have got infected at the quarantine itself.
The later scenario is alarming as it signals that the people are not safeguarded against possible infection from each other at quarantine centres.
The administration has not ruled out the possibility of people getting exposed to virus at quarantine facility they were sharing.
The experts suggest home quarantine for asymptomatic contacts in order to avoid risk of cross infection. The asymptomatic carriers, although safe themselves, could put life of others into danger. The elderly and those with co-morbidities could get infected and it can prove life threatening for them, experts say.
Other solution to the growing problem is testing all people at the quarantine facility immediately.
If there isn’t aggressive testing, then it is possible that individuals who do not show symptoms instantly will not only continue to suffer themselves but spread the infection to others. The coronavirus is such a pestilence where people can move from mild symptoms to turning severely ill very quickly. This necessitates even more urgency for the government to intervene, isolate and offer treatment early.
COVID-19: Justice Magrey monitors implementation of SC directions
Directs administration to take utmost care, accord necessary permission if need to send them home
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 8: In order to monitor the implementation and compliance of various directions passed by Supreme Court of India in a suo moto writ petition No. 04 of 2020 titled “IN RE CONTAGION OF COVID 19 VIRUS IN CHILDREN PROTECTION HOMES”, Chairperson, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey today held a high level meeting with Senior government functionaries of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was held through video conferencing to maintain social distance and implement the current lockdown successfully.
Principal Secretary Social Welfare, Shailendra Kumar, Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar, Sushma Chouhan and Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Commissioners, Municipal Corporations, Jammu and Srinagar, Avny Lavasa and Gazanfar Ali, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Mission Director, ICPS, SSP, Jammu and Srinagar, Joint Director Information, Parveen Kumar and other senior officers attended the meeting through Video Link.
Justice Magrey impressed upon all the attending officers to ensure strict implementation of the order passed by the Supreme Court of India and to ensure that the interest of Children who fall within the ambit of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act is protected and urgent measures are taken on priority basis to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Child Care Institutions.
In the meeting, the attending officers were asked to direct Child Welfare Committees to conduct inspections/inquires, conduct special online sittings/video sessions to prevent COVID-19 spread. They were also directed to establish online help desks for queries relating to children and staff.
Municipal Commissioners, Jammu and Srinagar were directed to immediately launch a sanitization drive in Observation Home RS Pura Jammu and Harwan Srinagar respectively and other children Homes in the UT both in Government and private sector. He also directed the concerned authorities to undertake awareness drive among these children about social distancing, hand washing and other personal hygiene issues.
The Chairperson directed the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar to make the lists of the Juvenile Homes available to the Municipal authorities in the two cities for the purpose.
The Health Department was advised to immediately depute team of doctors and para medics to Observation Homes and other Children Homes for checking the health status of each and every child staying in these Homes.
Justice Magray asked the Police Department to give necessary permission to transfer children to their family homes or Juvenile Justice Boards or any other authorities and at the same time to ensure that directions issued in respect of lockdown are not violated. He also directed the Police to ensure availability of transport to the children who ought to be taken to court or released on bail and also to see that they are not put to any unnecessary quarantine.
The attending officers were advised to immediately circulate information to all the Child Care Institutions about how to deal with COVID-19 pandemic timely and in effective manner. It was stressed that preparation must be started for meeting any disaster/emergency situation that may arise due to this pandemic and all the measures including staff rotation, reduction of in-person interaction by CCI staff and training of volunteers must be initiated at earliest.
Justice Magrey emphasized upon the participating Government functionaries and officers to ensure that counselling is made available in Child Care Institutions and that there are monitoring systems to ensure that violence of all kinds due to anxiety and stress produced by lockdown is monitored regularly and prevented immediately.
Need to make adequate budgetary allocations to meet the costs likely to arise for the effective management of pandemic was also discussed by Justice Magrey with the attending officers and they were also impressed upon to ensure availability of food, drinking water, clean clothes, good quality masks, soaps, disinfectants such as bleach or alcohol based disinfectants, menstrual hygiene products etc. to the children who fall within the ambit of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act in the Child Care Institutions.
It was also decided that the next meeting to review the implementation of directions passed by Supreme Court of India shall be held on 15th of April 2020.
Advisor Baseer Khan for door to door testing in Red zones
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 8: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, who is overall in-charge of Coronavirus Control efforts in Kashmir Division today said that everyone in the society has to play its due role in breaking the chain of deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
This was stated by the Advisor, during a meeting to review stock and supply position of medicines and other measures initiated by Health departments regarding Prevention and Control of Covid-19.
The meeting was attended by Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), J&K, Bhupinder Kumar and Managing Director J&K Medical Supplies Corporation, Shiv Kumar Gupta.
Director SKIMS Soura, Dr AG Ahangar, District Development Commissioner Baramulla, Dr G N Itoo, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Samir Mattoo, Principal Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr Samia Rashid, and Principal SKIMS Medical College Bemina, Dr Riyaz Untoo participated in the meeting via video conferencing.
The meeting held threadbare discussion on various issues regarding Status of Covid- 19 patients, Quarantine Facilities, Isolation Centers, Testing and Tracing of Covid- 19 patients, Availability of PPEs , Masks, Surgical goods, Medicines and Medical Equipment’s, Disease Surveillance Plan and several other issues.
The Advisor directed that suitable buildings close to hospitals should be taken for quarantine and Isolation Centers for the Covid -19 suspects. The buildings will also be used for accommodation of medical staff presently working in different hospitals. It was decided that Indoor stadium Baramulla would be taken for quarantine facility Centre.
The Advisor said that door to door testing of people residing in Red Zones must be conducted in strict manner so that chain of covid-19 virus would be broken. He urged the people to inform the administration in case they know any foreign traveller who has recently arrived from abroad in their neighbourhood, family, friend and social circle, in the larger interest of public.
It was given out that that there is suitable number of ventilators and other medical equipment presently available in hospitals required for treatment of Covid -19 patients.
The advisor was informed that there is no shortage of medicines and triple layer masks in Kashmir valley and testing of suspected coronavirus patients are being done by the doctors as per the health guidelines.
The meeting also discussed the facilities made available at quarantine facilities for shifting of suspected cases.
It was informed that overall situation is under control and health institutions are ready to combat any emergency.
The Advisor directed the officials to put in their best efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and asked them to intensify efforts to find anyone who might have come in contact with the suspected cases. He said that proper guidelines need to be followed while dealing with the evolving corona virus situation.
He stressed on sanitatization and fumigation particularly in the Red zone area.
The Advisor said that persons who are being home quarantined for 14 days are properly monitored so that there is no chance of further contamination. He said that record of persons who are coming from outside must be maintained so that a proper surveillance is kept on them.
The Advisor reiterated that all departments should work in convergence for creating awareness in community about the disease and the precautions to be taken.
Srinagar admin installs sample collection units
4 hospitals, 2 quarantine centres get two units each; 5 more hospitals to get them today
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Apr 8: The Srinagar disaster management authority Wednesday set up COVID-19 sample collection units at four hospitals and two quarantine centres in the district.
The hospitals where these were installed include CDH, SMHS and JLNM with two units each, and SKIMS Bemina with one unit.
The administration has also decided to install these – two each – at other hospitals including LD, GB Pant, B&J, SSH and KNS Sonwar.
The quarantine centres where these were also set up include KU and NIT. In each of these two units of sample collection were installed.
Meanwhile the DDMA has also installed decontamination chambers at JLNM and SKIMS Bemina hospitals.
The installation of decontamination chambers is aimed at preventing spread of COVID-19 into and out of these hospitals.
