Health Dept Puts Staff On Alert, Face Masks Made Mandatory In 3 Kashmir Districts
Srinagar– As the daily Coronavirus cases continue to spike in the Union Territory after a five month decline, the Jammu and Kashmir administration is gearing up to tackle the possible fourth wave of Covid-19, with three districts in the Valley making face masks mandatory at public places.
According to officials, wearing of face masks has been made compulsory in Srinagar, Ganderbal and Bandipora districts in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.
An order issued by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad pointed out the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in UT of Jammu & Kashmir.
The order stated that various preventive measures are recommended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India such as wearing of Face Masks, maintenance of social distance and hand sanitisation etc from time to time as effective means of COVID-19 containment.
“It has become imperative to ensure strict implementation of all preventive measures such as usage of face masks and maintenance of social distance in all the public places across the District to minimise the spread of covid-19 infection,” it added.
The order stated that in view of the above and in order to safeguard public health, use of face masks shall be compulsory at all public places in District Srinagar, with immediate effect till further orders.
“Moreover, all district and sectoral officers shall ensure usage of face masks by all officers and officials in the offices,” it reads.
Earlier, authorities in Bandipora and Ganderbal districts had also made wearing of face masks mandatory at public places and government offices in view of the rise in Covid-19 cases.
The number for active Covid cases, which had dropped to just below 50 towards the end of May, rose to nearly 1,200 on Monday. While Srinagar has 390 active cases, Jammu has 519.
Meanwhile, the department of health has chalked out a strategy to meet any possible challenge in the coming days.
Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather told Kashmir Observer that a circular has been issued for the necessary arrangement to deal with such crises.
“There will be 10-15 beds in every district hospital for Covid positive patients. The staff has already been put on alert,” Dr. Rather said.
However, he added that there is nothing to worry, despite the rise in cases and hospital admissions minimal.
“People need to follow the SOP’s, avoid gatherings and wear the masks now,” he added.
Professor and HoD Community Medicine, GMC Srinagar, Dr S. Muhammad Salim Khan told Kashmir Observer although the admissions are less but the cases are arriving with mild symptoms.
“There is nothing to worry but people need to take precautions,” said Khan who is also the Covid-19 nodal officer.
It may be noted that Jammu and Kashmir reported the highest spike in the last six months with 333 people testing positive for Coronavirus on Tuesday.
Daily Covid Cases Cross 300-Mark
The daily Coronavirus cases crossed 300-mark in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, the highest ever spike in the last six months, while one more person succumbed to the deadly infection in the Union Territory during the last 24 hours.
In Kashmir Valley, 146 fresh cases of novel Coronavirus were reported on Tuesday while 187 were detected from various districts of Jammu division, taking the number of people infected since the onset of pandemic in J&K to 457517.
Srinagar, the capital city reported the highest 95 new cases of Covid-19, followed by Baramulla and Ganderbal with 12 cases each, Budgam 11, Kupwara nine, Anantnag 5 and one case each in Kulgam and Pulwama.
In the winter capital, officials said, Jammu reported a maximum of 137 new cases of virus, Udhampur 20, Samba 14, Kathua nine, Rajouri three, Doda and Kishtwar two each.
Also, the officials said that one more person died of Covid-19 related complications in Jammu division, taking the overall fatality count to 4760 in J&K—2334 in Jammu and 2426 in Kashmir.
“Moreover, 70 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals including 30 from Jammu division and 40 from Kashmir division,” they added.
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