After witnessing an early March surge in covid19 positive cases, the Ladakh UT administration has largely managed to contain the virus with just one positive case emerging in the last 15 days.
The first two covid19 cases in Ladakh were reported on March7; both the patients had travel history to Iran. Thereafter, there was a surgein the cases inasmuch as up to March 18 about 14 positive cases were reported.However, since then only one positive case has been reported in the region.
An official said that sample reports of about 49 people werereceived on Thursday and all of them are negative. “The total active cases inLadakh are now 11 including 8 in Leh and 3 in Kargil.”
“The UT of Ladakh, which was one of the first fewregions in the country to report positive coronavirus cases, has not registeredany new case in the last 15 days” a senior health official in Leh told GreaterKashmir.
The officials attributed the success to stop the rise of thepositive cases, to measures like: “strict lockdown, and mass contact tracing.”
“We need to step up surveillance and find cases early;isolate them and treat them and trace their contacts to contain its spread,”officials said, adding that this was adopted by the health and other agenciesin Ladakh.
Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Baseer ul Haq Chaudhary told GreaterKashmir that certain effective measures taken to contain the spread. “And sofar we have been successful in it.”
“There was strict lockdown in Kargil district and weensure that people stay home, maintain social distance and avoid largegatherings for which the administration had issued prohibitory orders,” hesaid, adding that proper screening of travellers entering Kargil was done.
He said areas which were declared “containment zones” wereprovided with ration and other essential commodities at doorsteps by theadministration. “In theimplementation of official advisories and orders, the role of CEC LAHDC KargilFeroz Ahmed Khan besides civil society and religious leaders is well appreciatedand it helped us to make people aware about COVID19,” the DC said.
Chaudhary said that total positive cases in Kargil werethree. “The latest reports of two of them have tested negative”.
Divisional Commissioner Ladakh (UT) Swagat Biswas said theimplementation of the complete lockdown at an earliest, contact tracing, selfdeclaration and testing has to a large extent helped in combating the COVID-19so far.
“Lockdown is, of course, working and people are cooperating;as of now we have been able to contain the virus to some extent” he told GreaterKashmir.
He said the UT administration has established two COVID-19hospitals, one each in Leh and Kargil districts.
Meanwhile, a Central Rapid Response Team (CRRT) of doctorsof PGIMER, Chandigarh deputed for Leh by the Union Ministry of Health &Family Welfare met with the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur andsubmitted a report regarding preparedness measures for COVID-19 in Ladakh.
The doctors also appreciated the people of Ladakh for theirsense of understanding, cooperation and thankfulness towards the healthprofessionals and workers in observing the lockdown and combating COVID-19.
They also complimented the proactive role of UTadministration and Health Department.
The CRRT of doctors for COVID-19 confirmed that following aproactive and stringent policy of UT Administration, the situation so far isunder control in Ladakh but they cannot be complacent in the matter, addingthat they have proposed certain recommendations to further ensure safety andcontainment of COVID-19 in future.