Baramulla: A sudden spike in COVID 19 positive cases across Baramulla district has prompted the district administration to declare three more locations as containment zones, taking the total number of containment zones in the last few days to five.
The newly declared containment zones are Mohalla Jadeed and Singhbagh in Baramulla town while Saloosa village in Kreeri has also been declared as containment zone after fresh positive cases were detected in the area.
Earlier, Jetty colony Khawjabagh and Pathla Kanispora were declared by the authorities as containment zones.
A health official said that around 214 persons had tested positive for Covid-19 across Baramulla district in the last few days. He said on Saturday alone, 43 persons tested positive for the virus across Baramulla district.
“Baramulla district is witnessing a surge in the COVID 19 positive cases since the last few days. Few weeks back there was not a single fresh positive case. However, there has been a sudden spike in the positive cases now. People need to take precautions seriously,” the health official said.
In Government Medical College Baramulla, eight patients with breathing problems had been admitted in the last few days. Among eight admitted cases, four are on high flow oxygen.
A health official said following the surge in positive cases, five locations have been declared as containment zones in Baramulla district. “Following the order, there will be complete restrictions in the containment zones. The restrictions include complete lockdown and tight perimeter control except for essential needs. Besides, movement of the people in and out in the containment zones had been completely barred” the official said.
The authorities have also made testing and vaccination mandatory for the residents of the containment zones and those who don’t follow the order shall invite action including lodging of FIR under relevant provision of Disaster Management Act, officials said.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Bhupinder Kumar said that the authorities are taking all measures to contain the pandemic. He said among the measures includes vigorous testing and implementation of COVID SOPs.
The DC said the Government Medical College Baramulla authorities have been directed to keep a separate flu OPD section for the patients so that mixing of the COVID 19 patients with the non COVID patients is avoided. Besides, the COVID testing of pregnant women had been made mandatory, Kumar said.
“The law enforcing agencies have been strictly directed to impose the COVID 19 SOPs. Also, those who have missed COVID 19 second dose vaccine had been advised to administer it as soon as possible. The people need to strictly adhere to government announced measures so that we can jointly defeat the pandemic,” the DC said.