COVID-19: J&K govt considering doorstep ration distribution

Advisor to the J&K Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan on Sunday said that the government is considering to start doorstep ration distribution due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In this regard, the advisor directed all the Deputy Commissioners to work out a plan for doorstep distribution of ration and other essential commodities to the consumers so that long queues and large gatherings at ration depots would be avoided.

All the DCs have been directed to send their plan within three days to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir for further course of necessary action.

The advisor also directed DCs to increase the number of quarantine rooms with requisite facilities in their respective districts and ensure the availability of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, in case of exigency.

He said daily surveillance of Respiratory Tract Infection cases in 10 districts is going on, Rapid Response Teams (RRT) are in place in every district, samples are being collected and data analysed, besides cluster cases are being investigated.

The meeting was informed about the stocks position of masks, Personal Protective Equipment, VTMs and other equipment besides functioning of 24x7 district control rooms. Overall situation is under control and health institutions are ready to combat any exigency, officials informed the meeting.

The advisor asked DCs to classify their respective districts into zones and address their issues on priority basis. Also impart training to police and employees of district administration on how to tackle the COVID-19 infected or suspected person, he said.

He stressed the SMC and ULB employees to ensure sanitation and fumigation drive across the valley. The advisor said that all DCs should involve Panches, Sarpanchs, Urban Local Bodies employees and Tehsildars in the process of identifying the people who have recently arrived from outside the valley and have not been screened.

People were also asked to inform the administration in case they know any foreign traveller who has recently arrived from abroad in their neighbourhood, family, friend and social circle, in the larger interest of public. People can inform control rooms immediately and their identity and contact number will be kept secret.

The advisor reiterated that all departments should work in convergence for creating awareness in community about the disease and the precautions to be taken.

He directed the officials to put in their best efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and asked them to intensify efforts to find anyone who might have come in contact with the suspected cases. He said that proper guidelines need to be followed while dealing with the evolving coronavirus situation.

He exhorted upon officers to work jointly and address the COVID-19 problem in a dynamic manner.

On the occasion, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar directed district SSPs that if any person wasn't abiding by the rules or indulging in rumour mongering the said person should be immediately arrested under relevant sections of law.

Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary informed that district administration had identified 3,800 rooms in 64 hotels with three-star and other requisite facilities for quarantine. IANS