Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday directed the health department to administer second dose of coronavirus vaccine within a week to 5 lakh people who have completed the mandatory interregnum period.
The directions in this regard were issued by the Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta while chairing a meeting to review the public health response to COVID-19, an official spokesperson said.
Mehta, he said, asked the divisional and district administrations to ensure coverage of 5 lakh people who have completed the mandatory interregnum period and are due to receive the subsequent dose with second COVID vaccination jab within a week.
“The Chief Secretary emphasised on early culmination of COVID vaccination drives to ensure safety of local population once the economy is fully opened with resumption of all economic activities, reopening of schools, and large scale tourism activities,” the official spokesperson said.
He said that the Health and Medical Education Department was asked to ensure regular supply of vaccines to the districts, besides enhancing their testing facilities for early detection of COVID infections and emerging hotspots.
The Chief Secretary, he said, also impressed upon the district administration, Srinagar to remain vigilant to any surge in cases and focus intensively on daily testing of vulnerable population in consonance to the trajectory of infections.
“Special focus is to be laid on early testing and isolation of symptomatic patients having influenza like infections (ILIs) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARIs) due to the sudden change in season,” Mehta said.
As per the official spokesperson, the Chief Secretary further underscored the need for strict enforcement of the COVID appropriate behaviour (CAB) and COVID SOPs and protocols, besides directing the enforcement agencies to strictly implement the established protocols and levy penalties on defaulters.
“He also directed continuation of the COVID dedicated IEC campaign to raise awareness regarding DOs and Don’ts for keeping the disease at bay,” he added.
J&K Logs 101 Fresh Covid Cases
Over a hundred people tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, while 90 more people recovered from the deadly infection in the Union Territory during the last 24 hours.
According to officials, Kashmir Valley detected 90 new cases of novel coronavirus while the remaining 11 were reported from various parts of Jammu division, taking the total number of people infected by the virus in J&K to 332154.
In the Valley, officials said, Srinagar reported 42 new cases of Covid-19, followed by Baramulla with 25, Budgam 8, Kupwara and Ganderbal six each, Bandipora 2 and Anantnag one new case of virus. No fresh cases were reported from the three south Kashmir districts of Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian.
In the winter capital, officials said Jammu reported a maximum of four Covid-19 cases, Doda 3, Udhampur 2; while once case each was reported from Poonch and Ramban. The five districts of Rajouri, Kathua, Samba, Kishtwar and Reasi reported no fresh cases.
“Moreover, 87 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals including 16 from Jammu Division and 71 from Kashmir Division,” officials said.
The officials further said that the death toll due to pandemic in J&K remained 4432 —2176 in Jammu and 2256 in Kashmir, as no fatality was reported on Saturday.
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