In view of COVID-19 pandemic, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole today chaired a meeting to review the procedures for streamlining and further improving the functioning of the coronavirus testing laboratories at SKIMS and GMC Srinagar.
Various measures were discussed threadbare in the meetingwhich includes 24×7 functioning of labs, pool testing of samples, timelycollection of samples in each districts, daily release of individual reports,walk-in testing by individuals, unnecessary re-testing of the suspects, usageof such machines which will test hundred samples per day, consolidated testreporting, regular supply of RNA extraction kits & CBNAT cartridges andother COVID-19 related measures.
The Divisional Commissioner issued necessary directions onspot to concerned officers and asked them to submit daily report to him. TheDivisional Commissioner stressed the importance of increasing the capacity ofCOVID-19 laboratories, in terms of number of tests done per day and timelyreporting. He said that this is very vital for overall COVID-19 control andmitigation operations across valley like Isolation, Administrative Quarantine,Home Quarantine, Contact Tracing, Sampling and other appropriate daily planningof these activities at highest level.
He said that proper guidelines need to be followed whiledealing with the Corona virus situation and exhorted officers to put in jointefforts to manage and contain the COVID-19 pandemic in a collective manner.
Officer on Special Duty H&ME Dr Owais Ahmad, PrincipalGMC Dr Saima Rashid, Lab Coordinator, SHS, NHM Dr Jitender Mehta, HoDs ofMicrobiology SKIMS Soura, SKIMS Bemina & GMC and other concerned officerswere present in the meeting.