Panic grips Kupwara after 6 COVID-19 cases

Panic has gripped this northern Kashmir district after six COVID-19 cases were reported while the sub district hospital is struggling to cope with emerging crisis.

To stop spread of the infection, the administration hasdeclared many areas as red zones, while as restrictions have also beingimposed.

   

The administration has designated 100-bed hospital here as aCOVID-19 centre.  So far samples of 22people have been taken including six from border town of Tangdhar.

Residents here alleged lack of facility at the SDH Kupwara.”The hospital is facing acute shortage of doctors and paramedical staff whichhas resulted in hardships to patients who are forced to visit Srinagarhospitals,” said Muktar Ahmad Rather.

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the residents alleged they werenot provided proper care. “Designating a building as COVID-19 hospital withoutrequired facility means nothing in this crisis,” said Abdul Jabber Lone. “Forsample collection we have to travel long distance to Baramulla.”

The hospital, according to doctors, is equipped with oneventilator and caters to 120 villages having eight lakh population.

The doctors are also complaining of lack of protectivegears. “We have been left at the mercy of God,” said another doctor.

Chief Medical Officer, Kupwara, Kunsar Amin said: “We areusing all resources at our disposal in this hour of crisis and administrationis fully supporting us.”

Red Zones

While there are nakas on roads and announcements are beingmade urging people to stay indoors, the administration on Sunday declaredseveral areas red zones in the district.

Officials said villages like Baghbella, Tangdhar andquarantine centre at ITI Handwara have been declared as red zones while as theareas adjoining to these villages are buffer zones.

“The inhabitants of these areas shall also restrict theirmovement and shall not allow relatives/visitors to visit their homes withoutwritten permission of administrator concerned,” reads an order issued by DeputyCommissioner Kupwara Anshul Garg. “Consequently there shall be no inward oroutward movement of any person(s) from said spots and the people shall stay indoorsas there will be complete lockdown in both the places”.

It reads that the administrators shall be assisted by BDOsand all the officers of the line departments to ensure availability of basicfacilities including food grains, LPG and medicines, in the red and bufferzones.

“They shall promptly respond to medical emergencies and theBMOs shall dedicate one ambulance each for their respective areas,” it reads.”Any person/group/organization found involved in the breach of this order shallbe booked under relevant laws.”

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