Govt Forms 5-Member Crisis Group To Meet Situation
Jammu: As coronavirus continues to tighten its grip over Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory administration on Saturday constituted a five-member Crisis Management Group to maintain synergy between the departments for speedy decision on planning, coordination, and logistics to meet the prevailing situation.
The five-member Crisis Management Group, comprising Chief Secretary; Financial Commissioners – Finance, and Health & Medical Education; Home Secretary and Principal Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department were constituted during a high-level meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha here on Saturday, an official spokesperson said.
The meeting, he said, also announced to extend curfew in four districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam, and Jammu till May 6 morning instead of May 3
“The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha in which he passed specific directions for effectively controlling the spread of the Corona virus in the UT and providing best care to the patients,” the official spokesperson said.
He said that the LG is closely monitoring the Covid scenario in J&K and is taking regular review meetings with the concerned departments in order to assess the situation across the UT.
“After analyzing the district-wise situation, the meeting decided to extend Corona Curfew for three more days in the above mentioned four districts. A re-assessment of the situation will be taken before 6th May for laying down further action plan. Instructions were issued to the concerned officers for continuing micro-containment zoning as per requirement,” he said
“The Corona curfew at night shall continue in all Municipal / Urban Local Body limits of all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including the above four districts. Night curfew will be in force from 8 pm to 7 am. Other restrictions when curfew is not there will continue as before,” he added.
Emphasizing on optimal availability of oxygen supply, the LG, as per the official spokesperson directed for conducting Oxygen Audit in every hospital of the UT.
The LG, he said, also directed the Health department to lay special focus on the judicious usage of oxygen. The Lt Governor further directed for increasing beds with oxygen cylinders, besides effective operationalization of 108 Ambulance service to cater to the needs of the patients.
During the meeting, the official spokesperson said that the LG sought feedback from concerned Administrative Heads, Divisional Commissioners, Health and Police Departments regarding the evolving situation and also invited their suggestions for strengthening the pandemic control system component against the spread of Covid-19.
On vaccination, he said that Sinha asked the concerned officers to ensure that vaccination drive is not hampered during the lockdown period, and advised them to take comprehensive measures, besides reaching out to targeted age groups through mobile vaccination. The meeting also decided to have separate locations for different age groups for vaccination.
“The Lt Governor directed the concerned officers to make correct projection of requirements, besides effectively streamlining the supply and demand so that there would be apt availability of the necessary resources. The Lt Governor further asked the concerned officers to coordinate with Army authorities for augmenting their existing health capacities,” he added.
According to the official spokesperson, Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education gave a detailed overview of district-wise Covid situation in J&K, including medical infrastructure, bed occupancy, daily trend, testing and vaccination rate, testing capacities, oxygen availability, etc. He also informed the meeting that the DRDO team has arrived in the UT to set up 500-bedded Covid facility, one each in Srinagar and Jammu.
He said that the meeting was informed that 1,50,000 doses of vaccination for the people falling between the age of 18-45 years were procured and vaccination drive for the said age group has been started today.
“During the meeting, various valuable suggestions were made by the participants for effective Covid management pertaining to regulating logistic supply, monitoring the oxygen availability, infrastructure, and utilization of trained human resource, adopting an effective approach for rural and urban areas, increasing Jan Bhagidari in Covid control measures, developing comprehensive Preventive and Treatment plans, etc,” the official spokesperson added.
Normal Life On Freeze
Meanwhile normal life remained affected in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday with the imposition of the lockdown in the wake of an alarming surge in coronavirus cases.
“Lockdown remained in force in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday as restrictions on the movement and assembly of people continued to remain imposed across the UT,” the officials said.
They said security forces put barricades on roads at many places in the city here as well as in other district headquarters of the valley and the Jammu region to prevent the movement of people.
However, essential and emergency services were allowed, they added.
The officials said shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut across the UT.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration had imposed lockdown in 11 districts — Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Kulgam, Pulwama, Ganderbal, Jammu, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur — at 7 pm on Thursday.
In the rest of the nine districts — Bandipora, Kupwara, Shopian, Rajouri, Poonch, Samba, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban — the lockdown came into effect at 7 pm on Friday.
The lockdown across the UT will remain in force till 7 am on Monday, they said.
During the last 24 hours, police have arrested 40 people, lodged 26 FIRs and also realised fine worth Rs 51,270 from 335 people for violating the guidelines/rules throughout the Kashmir valley, the officials said.
Also, 11 vehicles and four two-wheelers were seized for violating the restrictions, they said.
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