Army has initiated measures to prevent spread of Coronavirus infection at battalion-level and has also provided fumigation machines to administration in Kashmir.
“Proactive measures by #Indian Army to prevent communityspread at unit level. Sanitation of dining halls and places of use by groups ofsoldiers; #IndianArmy committed to combat spread of #COVID19,” Army’s northernCommand said in a tweet on Friday.
Earlier the Northern Command had set up Isolation Wardcomprising 100 beds and started public outreach programmes as a preventivemeasure.
The facility has been set up at Command Hospital NorthernCommand, Udhampur.
Following many health advisories issued by the government,the army Headquarters in New Delhi also issued detailed instructions to theunits with respect to preparations and emergency response in tackling Covid-19.
The advisory includes detailed instructions for actions atvarious military stations, army formations and service hospitals
“Local military authorities will exercise suitable controlto avoid/postpone all non- essential mass gathering like festivals, welfareactivities and public gatherings till situation improves,” the instructionsread. “Regular health information and counseling activities will be carried outat all military stations.”
The army Headquarters has directed the formations acrosscountry to establish Isolation Wards and separate OPDs for screening ofsymptomatic cases to prevent avoidable transmission in military hospitals.
Army announced it was also providing fumigation machines andchemicals to administration. “#CoronaMuktAwaam #IndianArmy constantlysupporting @diprjk to enable & empower them to effectively combat#COVID19& protect #Awaam;in coord with @IAF_MCC provided 150 fumigationmachines& 2000 ltrs of chemicals to @srinagaradmin, after airlifting from#Surat to #Srinagar,” another tweet said.
Srinagar based defence spokesmen, Col Rajesh Kalia said tocontain the spread of the pandemic in Kashmir, the army has once again based onthe requirement projected by Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and in closecoordination with air force arranged 150 Knapsack Mechanized Boom Sprayers andan additional 2,000 litres of QAC to be airlifted from Surat to Srinagar.
“This will not only enable the civil administration toeffectively combat the threat of the pandemic, but will ensure that they areempowered to protect the Awaam of Kashmir,” he said in a statement.
The Army has appealed people to save water. “SaveWater whilefighting #COVID19. Use water judiciously for maintaining hygiene to conservethis scarce resource,” said another tweet by Northern Command.
The army has also held meeting in Ladakh in the wake ofCovid-19 outbreak.