Red zones to be highlighted through spatio-temporal mapping

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 5: Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam today called for intensive surveys to be conducted in twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar especially in the identified red zones. The move aimed to have a data base ready with the administration and to put people in isolation/quarantine having symptoms of coronavirus thereby putting check on further spread of Covid-19.

Chief Secretary said this while chairing a meeting to review the present situation keeping in view the increase in number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir.

Financial Commissioner, Health, Principal Secretary, HUDD, Principal Secretary, Planning & Information, Commissioner Secretary, Forests, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Secretary, RDD, Secretary, FCS&CA, DC Jammu and MD NHM, participated in the meeting. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, IGP Kashmir, DC Srinagar, OSD coronavirus control, Owais Ahmad and MD, KPDCL, Mohammad Aijaz attended the meeting through video conference.

Chief Secretary while interacting with the officers asked both the Divisional Commissioners and DCs of Srinagar and Jammu to work out modalities for survey to be done initially in the twin cities of UT. Principal Secretary, HUDD was asked to coordinate with Financial Commissioner, Health to devise a format on which the teams would conduct the surveys to compile a data of people living in containment zones.

It was decided that the staff who is already involved in any kind of coronavirus mitigation efforts will not be part of the survey teams. Fresh staff to be deputed in the teams exclusively for this purpose, the Chief Secretary emphasized.

He said that the survey teams shall be constituted but the survey would be done only if need arises and the same model will be replicated in other districts also.

Underscoring the need of utilization of technology in fighting the virus and to have clear picture of containment zones or the areas having reported positive cases from all the districts, the Chief Secretary directed for plotting the identified areas through spatio-temporal mapping.  He asked Commissioner Secretary, Forests to depute technical experts from Environment & Remote Sensing Department and to put DFOs at the disposal of DCs along with their staff for mapping related activities.

Deliberations were also held on establishing professional call centres in the districts. To begin with, it was decided that call centre facility shall be created initially in Jammu and Srinagar cities so as to provide 24X7 assistance to the people. These call centres would be different from the already operational helpline/control rooms where the medical advice/queries are being addressed, the Chief Secretary said.

He asked both the Divisional Commissioners and DCs of Jammu and Srinagar to further discuss and made a workable action plan. He stressed on putting more people/staff in this activity for addressing public issues related to the coronavirus.

Besides, emphasis was also laid on tracing out people who had attended religious congregation at Delhi and their contacts so as to control further spread of virus. Chief Secretary directed Principal Secretary, Home, Divisional Commissioners, IGPs of both the divisions and concerned DCs to prioritize the tracing activity and put all such people in isolation/quarantine.

Calling effective tracing and testing a success in containing the coronavirus, the Chief Secretary asked all concerned to put in their serious efforts in identifying people having symptoms of coronavirus and poses threat to others by not disclosing their travel history and sharing health condition with the administration.

‘Contact tracing going on scientifically, sample collection being taken to doorsteps’

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Apr 5: At a time when the world is grappling with deadly coronavirus pandemic, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has established timely COVID-19 hospitals—which are working round the clock and performing sample testing swiftly.

Director, Health Services Kashmir, Dr Samir Mattoo said that the Government established eight hospitals in Kashmir and three in Jammu—exclusively for COVID-19 cases.

“All our eight COVID-19 hospitals are performing well and we have been able to reach out to the people with some sort of relief amid this healthcare crisis,” Dr Mattoo said.

“We have also directed our staff to remain on 24X7 shifts for any exigency,” he added.

Appealing general masses, Dr Mattoo said that “With Coronavirus declared as Pandemic by the World Health Organization, it becomes imperative for all the citizens to cooperate with the authorities to prevent and contain its outbreak,” he said.

He said that the Government has taken a slew of measures in terms of screening of people particularly inbound travelers, surveillance & quarantine, isolation of suspects and is continuously monitoring the situation on a minute to minute basis.

”People shouldn’t panic, but at the same time the general public is requested to act and adhere to the advisories and Dos & Don’ts issued by the Health Department,” Dr Mattoo said.

  Upgrading Manpower

The Director said the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir is imparting specialized trainings to the 52 lab technicians  who are undergoing training at the JLNM Hospital. They have been directed to study the Red Zones and Buffer Zones and launch the mass contact tracing. The staff has been equipped with the PPEs and designated mobile vans for contact tracing.

They have been trained to perform the donning, doffing, while as with the help of Mobile Designated Vans (MDV) —the healthcare professionals have been able to increase the scientific sampling and testing of suspects across Kashmir region.

“Earlier, we were able to collect 70 samples, now we go for upto 150 a day,” he said. “We are also waiting for some equipment and important reagents from ICMR. We have so far got seven sophisticated machines for testing and we will be again procuring few more,” he said. “We can together defeat this virus. This needs equal cooperation from people,” Dr Mattoo said. “People can help Government to contain the incidence of COVID-19,” he said.

He said that all the COVID-19 hospitals were performing well and healthcare workers and professionals were now going house to house for sample collection in red zone areas.

The Director has conducted visits across all Kashmir districts amid pandemic. He said that he recently visited Hajin area in north Kashmir’s district Bandipora—which saw some positive cases.

He said as a precautionary measure, people are requested not to visit hospitals unnecessarily or in case of minor ailments. Besides, it is also advised to limit the number of attendants accompanying the patient to maximum one person in case of extremely sick, emergency patients.

Dr. Mattoo said that hundreds of treatment beds and additional quarantine beds have also been earmarked, besides adequate capacity to handle any possible rush. He said that though the number of COVID-19 cases in Kashmir is surging day by day, if people take all precautionary measures, it would break the chain and prevent it from further spread.

Dr Mattoo said that so far hospitals across Kashmir are equipped with the required equipment and necessary interventions. “Not every coronavirus patient will require a ventilator. All they need is a separate or isolation ward and we’ve enough of them,” he said, adding that Department of Health Services was monitoring the situation very closely.

Distress Lines

Dr Mattoo informed that the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK) also constituted a team of District Nodal officers for COVID-19, who are closely working in their respective districts to assess the situation. He said besides this 24X7 social media Distress Lines were established through which one could contact DHSK staff and doctors for any expert opinion.

“We have created a full proof mechanism where people can contact us and we will provide them basic opinions about keeping themselves happy and healthy,” said Dr Qazi Haroon, who is also OSD with DHSK.

Dr Mattoo said that the DHSK has witnessed a drastic progress and improvements in terms of major health indicators when compared nationally since half a decade. He said efforts are underway and a well-defined road map & action plan was put in to intervene so that the peripheral health care deliverance is upgraded on modern lines. He said that primary short term intervention is also provided for the skill enhancement of the health personnel working in different hospitals.

Dr Mattoo said that patient feedback system has been started on regular basis so to bring in accountability in the system. He said, besides this Centralized Oxygen Manifold, Bed side Oxygen delivery has started in peripheral hospitals of Kashmir Division with District Baramulla and this is to be followed by DH Anantnag, DH Bandipora, DH Budgam, DH Kulgam & JLNM hospital during the current financial year. He said that several steps are underway to provide Tele Medicine (use of Telecommunications and Information Technology to provide clinical health care from a distance) facilities.

Dr Mir Mushtaq, senior consultant with DHSK, currently posted at District Hospital, Pulwama said that at this critical stage the seriousness invested in staying at home will decide the direction. “We are working on the front line. Field teams are continuously screening persons in red and people also need to give them a breather,” Dr Mir said.

It may be recalled here that the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir has been proactive in innovating and is keeping the Administrative Department aware of the evolving requirements of healthcare service delivery mechanisms and contemporary means by which the health setup of Kashmir Division can keep the pace with the expectations of the public.

The healthcare officials urged the general public to stay indoors, strictly implement social distancing measures, disclose recent travel history to COVID-19 affected countries and report any contact with positive cases voluntarily to flatten the COVID-19 curve.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 5: Advisor to Lt Governor, K.K. Sharma today directed the Industries Department to ensure that the industrial units engaged in production of essential commodities like food items and medicines, to follow the prescribed safety protocols to counter spread of COVID-19.

The Advisor was reviewing safety measures being put in place by the individual industrial units for the safety of the workers in consonance with the protocol already in vogue.

The Industries department is monitoring and providing the requisite logistic support to units engaged in production of essential commodities, which have resumed operations during last fortnight in consonance with the circular issued by the Union Government.

The Advisor said that it needs to be ensured that each industrial worker, including security and administrative employees at unit sites are wearing a mask at all times-while inside the unit at work, outside and during commuting from place of stay to factory site.

He further directed the officers to ensure that owners are asked to provide masks compulsorily to workers. Cloth (stitched) masks can be used, as well, which are being made by JK Handlooms Corporation, JK KVIB and can be sourced by the industrial units, he added.

Precious Kashmir News
Bandipora, Apr 5: Six more villages were declared red zones and their surrounding villages as buffer zones, in the Bandipora district, to prevent spread of corona virus after six persons from these villages were declared COVID-19 positive, in past two days.

The villages include Konan, GundQaiser, Gund-Dachina, Hakbara, Madwan and Pethkote.

District Magistrate, Bandipora, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza, said that in view of six positive cases reported from these villages, it has become imperative to initiate restrictive measures under section 144 CrPC for prevention of danger to human life , health and safety.

Under the order issued by the District Magistrate, in this regard,  there should be no outward or inward movement of any individual for any reason, whatsoever,  in these villages. “However for any medical emergency, individuals can contact 24*7 Control Room on 01957-225024 or 01957-225323,” order reads.

The DM also directed the law enforcing agencies to implement prohibitory orders in letter and spirit to save lives. He warned of strict action against the violators of the order under section 188 IPC and other relevant provisions of Epidemic Disease Act 1897 and the Disaster Management Act 2005.

He appealed the people to cooperate with the administration and ensure strict adherence to the order as the non compliance will constitute criminal offence and attract strict actions.

He said the district administration has put in place a mechanism to ensure uninterrupted supplies and deliveries of essential services to the people of the district at their doorstep. He said essential commodities will be home-delivered to residents as part of this mechanism.