Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan today said that Government is considering to start doorstep ration distribution amid situation arising due to COVID-19 pandemic.
In this regard, the Advisor directed all the DeputyCommissioners to work out a plan for doorstep distribution of ration and otheressential commodities to the consumers so that long queues and large gatheringsat ration depots would be avoided.
All the DCs have been directed to send their plan withinthree days to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir for further course of necessaryaction.
The Advisor also directed DCs to increase the number ofquarantine rooms with requisite facilities in their respective districts andensure the availability of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, in case ofexigency.
The meeting was informed that daily surveillance ofRespiratory Tract Infection cases in ten districts is going on, Rapid Response Teams (RRT) are inplace in every district, samples are being collected and data analysed, besides cluster cases arebeing investigated.
The meeting was informed about the stocks position of masks,Personal Protective Equipment, VTMs and other equipment besides functioning of24×7 district control rooms. Overall situation is under control and Healthinstitutions are ready to combat any exigency, the concerned officials informedthe meeting.
The Advisor asked DCs to classify their respective districtsinto zones and address their issues on priority basis. He stressed the SMC andULB employees to ensure sanitation and fumigation drive across the valley.
The Advisor said that all DCs should involve Panchs,Sarpanchs, Urban Local Bodies employees and Tehsildars in the process ofidentifying the people who have recentlyarrived from outside the valley and have not been screened.
People were also asked to inform the administration in casethey know any foreign traveller who has recently arrived from abroad in theirneighbourhood, family, friend and social circle, in the larger interest ofpublic. People can inform control rooms immediately and their identity andcontact number will be kept secret.
He directed the officials to put in their best efforts toprevent the spread of the virus and asked them to intensify efforts to findanyone who might have come in contact with the suspected cases. He said thatproper guidelines need to be followed while dealing with the evolving coronavirus situation.
On the occasion, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmirzone, Vijay Kumar directed district SSPs that if any person wasn’t abiding therules or indulging in rumour mongering—the said person should be immediatelyarrested under relevant sections of law.
Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudharyinformed that district administration had identified 3800 rooms in 64 hotelswith three star and other requisite facilities.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole; DeputyCommissioner, Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary; Director SKIMS, Prof. A GAhangar; Additional Commissioner Kashmir Bilal Ahmad Bhat among other officerswere present on the occasion.