14 More Suspects Admitted To Srinagar Hospitals, 3146 Enlisted For Observation Across J&K
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, March 19 (GNS): A day after a 67-year-old woman tested positive for coronavirus, authorities here ordered virtual lockdown, shutting down public transport and banned assembly of more than five persons in a bid to contain the spread of the pathogen.
While no fresh case of covid-19 surfaced on Thursday, doctors at SKIMS, Kashmir main tertiary care hospital, admitted five more persons to its isolation facility and they include two relatives of the woman.
Also, nine persons with symptoms like coronavirus were admitted to Srinagar’s CD hospital, officials added.
“Five persons were admitted and two of them had come in contact with the woman who tested positive yesterday (Wednesday,” Dr Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent of SKIMS told GNS.
He said that their samples have been taken and reports are expected by Friday, Dr Jan added.
Meanwhile, sources told GNS that there was a likelihood that a male person, one among those who came in contact with the sexagenarian woman, may test positive given his symptoms.
Asked whether the observation “likelihood” was based on an initial report suggesting high viral load, he said, “true.” However, he quickly added that the confirmation will come once the “final” test report is received.
Also 11 persons from Shopian district who had arrived along the woman from Khaniyar were identified and “quarantined in the government designated hospital,” Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Shopian Dr Samiullah told GNS.
Dr Naveed Nazir Shah, HOD Chest Disease Hospital, when contacted by GNS said that nine more persons were admitted to the isolation facility and their samples have been sent for tests. He also informed that two test reports of the persons admitted already to the hospital were received and they came out to be negative.
According to the daily media bulletin, issued by government, 3146 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance in J&K. It said 2337 persons are under home quarantine, 34 under hospital quarantine and 419 persons are under home surveillance.
So far 156 samples have been sent for testing, of which 144 tested negative and only four cases have tested positive.
Earlier, in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus infection, the administration in Srinagar imposed restrictions in entire district.
“The decision to impose restrictions on public movement has been taken in the wake of a resident – with travel history – testing positive for coronavirus in the district,” an official spokesman said.
District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary issuing orders under Section 144 of CrPC said restrictions are a preventive measure aimed at containing spread of the infection in the district.
The restrictions order states that public movement including pedestrian and transport and operation of business and other kinds of establishments will be restricted across the district till further notice.
He said the restrictions order is an extension of the order issued earlier under the disaster management act 2005 adding that all instructions issued under both orders must be implemented in letter and strict. He said violations would constitute a criminal offence and attract strict penal action.
Choudhary said the administration would do its best to minimise hassles that might result from restrictions having had to be imposed and urged all residents to cooperate with the administration in this collective fight. He assured that there would be no issues as far as provision of essential supplies is concerned.
Meanwhile the district administration has urged all residents who might have come in contact with the COVID-19 positive case in Srinagar to report to their nearest health facilities or contact its control room at 01942457552 or 01942457543 or 9419028251 or 9419028242 or 9419014723 — urging that the appeal must not be ignored.
The administration also constituted and activated 21 medical teams for holding house-to-house inspections and collecting data in and around the area where the infected person resides.
The medical teams went to all houses within 300-meter radius surrounding the house of the infected person and conducted relevant investigations to ascertain whether someone had come into contact with the infected person.
The medical teams – each of which comprises three professionals including a doctor – was well-equipped with personal protective gear and items and diagnostic equipment to ensure safe conduct of the exercise and correct investigations as part thereof.
Revenue and Srinagar Municipal Corporation officials assisted the medical teams during the exercise. Magistrates were also part of the efforts in order to ensure smooth conduct thereof.
“The administration also conducted thorough sanitisation of the entire area. Well-equipped SMC teams went in and around disinfecting the entire area,” the spokesman said. (GNS)
