Restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus wereintensified in declared red zones across the Kashmir valley, with authoritieswarning of strict action against those violating prohibitory orders.
Security forces have sealed off main roads in most places inthe valley and erected barriers at several other places to check the unwantedmovement of the people and to enforce the lockdown, officials said.
Only persons with valid passes were allowed to move, theyadded.
There will be no inward and outward movement of any personfrom areas declared red zones and the people will stay in their homes to ensurecomplete lockdown as restrictions have been intensified. Strict action will betaken against those who violate the prohibitory orders, they said.
They said the curbs were intensified after chief secretary,BVR Subrahmanyam, directed all Deputy Commissioners and District Police headsfor strict implementation of restrictions in all 77 Red Zones (areas reportingmaximum cases) declared in Jammu and Kashmir.
The chief secretary directed the deputy commissioners to gofor complete lockdown in such areas for containment of the disease and ensurethat there is zero movement of people, they added.
The total number of positive cases in the union territoryhas risen to 245 — out of which 197 were in Kashmir and 48 in Jammu.
While four patients have died in Jammu and Kashmir, six haverecovered.
More than 51,000 people have been kept under surveillanceincluding those who are either in government established quarantine facilitiesor in home isolation.
Till date, 51320 travellers and persons in contact withsuspected cases have been put under surveillance which include 9153 persons inhome quarantine including facilities operated by government, 433 in hospitalquarantine, 235 in hospital isolation and 29718 under home surveillance.Besides, 11777 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period,”the officials said.
They said the union territory has ramped up testing and wasnow testing at the rate of 289 persons per one million of the population.
Over 400 persons tested on Sunday alone. This may lead tomore positive cases or declaration of more areas as red zones, but it is not acause for alarm, the officials said.
Meanwhile, markets across the valley were shut and publictransport was off the roads with only pharmacies and groceries allowed to open,the officials said.
Educational institutions across Kashmir are closed, whileall public places including gymnasiums, parks, clubs and restaurants were shutdown more than a week before the nationwide lock down announced by PrimeMinister Narendra Modi.
While the Prime Minister announced the country-wide lockdownon the evening of March 24, the union territory administration here had onMarch 22 announced a lockdown across Jammu and Kashmir till 31 March as part ofits efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The administration said the essential services includinghealthcare personnel have been exempted from the restrictions.
Restrictions were first imposed in many parts of the valleyon March 19 to contain the spread of the virus. The measures were taken afterthe detection of the first positive case of coronavirus in the valley.