Jammu- The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday directed the health and medical education (H&ME) department to keep sufficient stock of medicines, activate war rooms and isolation facilities to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the Union Territory.
These directions were passed by J&K Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta while chairing a meeting of Covid task force on Wednesday in which Additional Chief Secretary, H&ME, Administrative Secretaries of Home and Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction along with other officers were present, an official spokesperson said.
In view of the surge in COVID cases, he said, the Task Force reviewed the public health response and various mitigation measures being put in place for effective containment and mitigation of the infection in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the official spokesperson, the Task Force was apprised that J&K has administered 1.94 crore vaccines to vaccinate 107% and 101% eligible population with the first and second dose, respectively.
The meeting, he said, was also informed that the UT is further speeding up its vaccination drive in the 15-17 age category and has already achieved 32% coverage.
Mehta, as per the official spokesperson, asked the H&ME department to prioritize administering booster doses in vulnerable populations, besides, expediting vaccination in the 15-17 age group and replenishing the stock of COVID specific medicines.
The Department, he said, was directed to ensure strict enforcement of CAB, COVID SOPs, and protocols towards ensuring the highest caution and preparedness and lowest fatality.
According to the official spokesperson, the Chief Secretary emphasized that Omicron has a growth advantage over the delta variant and as such requires ardent mitigation and containment measures from an early stage, preferably when the positivity rate breaks out the 10% benchmark.
Observing that Omicron is being perceived as less dangerous than the delta variant responsible for the second wave, Mehta, he said, appealed to the public to raise their guard and remain cautious and vigilant to the infection since it has a high rate of transmission and can infect a larger group of people over shorter periods.
“It remains the social and moral responsibility of every citizen to be responsible for themselves and those around them; they must exercise due diligence against any symptom of infection in the interest of their family members as well as that of society at large,” Mehta said, as per official spokesperson.
He said that people were further appealed to avoid visiting crowded places and all symptomatic persons to appropriately isolate themselves and seek medical assistance, if required.
“In the event of non-availability of home isolation, institutional isolation facilities can be availed,” he said, adding “The Chief Secretary directed immediate activation of emergency control rooms and decentralized COVID war rooms and re-activation of Panchayat level isolation facilities and COVID Care Centres to contain the rural spread of the disease.
The official spokesperson said that the Task Force directed NHM to widely publicize the COVID helplines and UT/Divisional/District-level emergency contact numbers for assistance including tele-consultations through bulk messages and proper advertisement, besides promoting medical interactions with medical experts on both electronic and social media.
He said that the Department was also asked to create visual content in vernaculars on COVID good practices for circulation among the general public.
“The Chief Secretary directed ramping up of testing facilities in Jammu and Kashmir to conduct over 2 lakh daily tests in the coming days while maintaining the contact tracing ratio at 1:15,” he said.
According to the official spokesperson, the Task Force was further apprised that under ECRP-II, all infrastructural preparations have been completed and ICU beds, oxygen supported beds, and ventilators are in a state of readiness.
“At present, the bed occupancy in Jammu and Kashmir is less than 10% and the medical facilities are maintaining a healthy and comfortable state,” he said.
Mehta, he said, further impressed upon the Health Department to circulate treatment SOPs for minor children and train the pediatrics staff accordingly, besides ensuring the availability of the best treatment and facilities including suitable ventilators and related machinery to this age category which has hitherto remained less affected from COVID-19.
Engage Staff From Other Depts: Pole
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole has meanwhile directed the engagement of staff of other departments for non-medical purposes including distribution of testing kits, assisting control rooms and managing containment zones.
He passed these directions while chairing a virtual meeting regarding containment of Covid and preparation for tackling third wave of covid-19 with Deputy Commissioners and senior officers of health and medical education department, an official spokesperson said Wednesday.
During the meeting, he said, the Div Com enjoined on DCs to prioritize containment of covid and focus on tackling surge of cases. Pole, he said, directed them to visit health institutions along with CMOs to boost morale of the medical and paramedical staff which would motivate them to manage patients and covid properly.
“He directed DCs to constitute teams who would distribute covid kits to the covid positive patients at home. He also stressed on delay in elective surgeries in view of surge in cases so the health care system is not constrained,” he said.
Besides, the official spokesperson said that Div Com also directed to reactivate Panchayat Covid Care Centres established during the second phase which would help in enhancing the capability of district administrations to manage third wave.
The Div Com, he said, further stressed on restoration of all the equipments used during the 2nd wave without wasting any additional time.
According to the official spokesperson, Pole directed for the engagement of staff of other departments for non-medical purposes including distribution of testing kits, assisting control rooms and managing containment zones.
“Meanwhile, Div Com said that during the current phase of covid 19 pandemic, symptoms are mild in nature and so the home isolation cases shall be more while volume of hospitalization would be minimum. However, he directed all to be prepared for any exigency,” he added.
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