J&K Govt Seeks Help Of Clergy As Covid Cases Surge

CAB Violators In City To Be Slapped With Fine: Div Com

Srinagar: As coronavirus cases continue to surge in Kashmir Valley, the divisional administration on Saturday sought help of religious heads over strict enforcement of Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) among the people in view of possible third wave of coronavirus.

In a meeting with prominent religious personalities of district Srinagar including Imams and Khateebs of shrines and mosques, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole appealed to them to continue sensitizing people about adopting CAB and not to lower their guard to save themselves, an official spokesperson said. Pole, he said, termed the religious heads as social influencers and

Chief Executive Officers, Waqf Board, Mufti Farid ud din and other board officers were also present in the meeting.

At the outset, the official spokesperson said that Div Com appreciated religious scholars for their role and cooperation since the last one and half year of pandemic for educating and sermonizing people, which helped to the large extent to save people from the deadly pandemic.

“He informed them that even the developed countries including UK, USA and Italy, where healthcare system is sophisticated, suffered due to third wave where virus created havoc and emphasized on them that it is their religious as well as social obligation to educated people and help in the implementation of CAB as per the guidelines issued by the government from time and time,” he said.

Pole, he said, maintained that it was highly imperative that CAB is observed in letter and spirit in the mosques and shrines where people assemble to offer prayers.

“He stressed on them to ensure wearing of masks and maintenance of physical distance,” he added.

On the occasion, the official spokesperson said that the head cleric of Hazratbal shrine presented the measures taken by the imams and responsible committee members of shrines and mosques regarding the observance of Covid guidelines and ensured that they will continue to lend support to the government in containment of viral infection.

Meanwhile, in a separate meeting with officers of various departments, Pole directed imposition of fine on CAB violators across the city.

In the meeting, the official spokesperson said that Div Com reiterated to the officers to ensure observance of CAB in the offices and enforce Covid guidelines in the public places including parks, business establishments, shops, malls and institutions. The Div Com, he said, cautioned them that any negligence for containment of virus will have a bad impact on human lives and economy.

“We can’t stop virus from mutation but we have to take every precautionary measure to contain spread of virus,” Pole said, as per official spokesperson.

He further said that the Div Com directed DDOs to withhold the salary of employees who are not vaccinated yet and directed them to ensure every employee is vaccinated.

“He said there shall be surprise inspections to check the vaccination certificates and observance of CAB in the offices,” the official spokesperson said, adding “Besides, he directed officers present in the meeting that they should not allow any person without mask in the premises of office.

He said that Pole also directed officers of Home guard department, NCC, SDRF to deploy some of their volunteers in Srinagar and other districts for the enforcement of Covid guidelines at public places.

According to the official spokesperson, the Div Com directed officers of Drug Control, Food and Civil Supplies, and Metrology to conduct the surprise inspections of medical shops, retail shops, hotels and restaurants to check whether the employees of these establishments are vaccinated and Covid guidelines are followed.

“He instructed them to impose a fine on the violators and cancel the license of a third time violator. He also directed ARTO, Srinagar and traffic police to enforce the implementation of Covid protocol in the passenger and private vehicles,” he said.

Div Com, he said, also directed director floriculture to prohibit the entry of unmasked and unvaccinated persons in the parks and gardens.

“He asked the director of floriculture to establish vaccination booths in the parks and vaccinate non-inoculated visitors. Further, he asked the police to assist the enforcement teams of all the concerned teams in the implementation of CAB,” the official spokesperson added.

152 Cases Detected in 24 Hrs

Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir recorded 152 fresh cases of novel coronavirus on Saturday while no Covid-19 related fatality was reported from the Union territory during the last 24 hours.

According to officials, Kashmir Valley reported 137 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday while the remaining 15 were detected from Jammu division, taking the total number of people infected since the outbreak of pandemic last year in J&K to 327773.

In Valley, Srinagar reported the highest 67 new cases, followed by Baramulla with 23, Kulgam 15, Budgam 10, Ganderbal 7, Pulwama 6 and three each new cases from Kupwara, Anantnag and Bandipora, officials said. No case was reported from south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

Similarly, Doda reported 8, Jammu 3, Kishtwar 2 and one case each was reported from Rajouri and Samba districts, they added. Five districts of Udhampur, Poonch, Ramban, Reasi and Kathua reported no new cases of virus.

During the same time, officials said, 113 more Covid-19 patients have recovered—18 from Jammu and 95 from Kashmir.

Also, officials said no coronavirus related fatality was reported during the last 24 hours. So far 4416 people have died— 2169 in Jammu division and 2247 in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, there was one fresh confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today, they said. So far 46 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials added.

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