Srinagar admin orders more ‘shutdowns’ to keep corona at bay
Hostels, canteens, parks, gardens, restaurants, roadside eateries, gyms, saloons, spas and clubs asked to close down; overloading in buses banned
Srinagar: The Srinagar district administration on Tuesday announced a slew of additional measures, including plans of televised classes for students, to ensure that there is no outbreak of coronavirus in the city and the Valley.
District Magistrate Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary issued a three-page order listing various dos and don’ts for people for curbing the COVID-19 spread in the city and the rest of the Valley.
While all educational institutions in the city have been closed till further orders, the district administration on Tuesday directed the head of the departments and institutions to devise and submit proposals for televised classes for students by March20.
The district administration will support and finance these televised classes, the order said.
The administration has also directed shutdown of all hostels, canteens, parks, gardens, restaurants and roadside eateries, food courts, and food joints in the city till further orders. The home delivery of food has also been banned.
According to the order, conferences, workshops, rallies and sit-in protests will not be allowed in the city till March 31 while the managements of community halls have been directed not to take any booking for any function, be it religious or social.
The gyms, saloons, spas and clubs are also closed till further orders.
The administration has directed all tour operators and travel agents to declare details of all bookings made by them for passengers undertaking international and domestic air travel.
Overloading of passengers in public transport vehicles too has been banned and the administration has directed the traffic police to seize any vehicle found overloaded.
The order also states that permits of vehicle and licences of driver shall be cancelled forthwith in case of overloading, adding that transport operator unions have been sensitised about such measures in meeting held on March 16.
Besides reiterating earlier directions about self-declaration and home- quarantine for those with travel history to corona-hit countries, the administration said it will undertake GIS mapping of all cases including suspects, those under surveillance, quarantined and isolated.
This will also include those tested for coronavirus infliction irrespective of the outcome of the test and the data shall be maintained at the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
The order states that Deputy Director FCSCA has been designated as the Nodal Officer for provision of food and logistics to all quarantine centres as requisitioned by Director SKIMS, Principals of Medical Colleges, Director Health Kashmir and Chief Medical Officer Srinagar. It states that an amount of Rs 1 crore has been released to GMC, SMC, SKIMS, CMO and others for such measures as may be required for an effective response to mitigate the spread of coronovirus.
It directs the concerned that the quarantine facilities (hospital and non-hospital) already obtained shall be notified immediately and requisite facilities put in place, also instructing that further steps shall be taken to improve testing facilities for which requisite assistance shall be provided by the DDMA.
The order directs managements and concerned authorities to take such steps as required to ensure that there is no public gathering at any public place or social or religious place till March 31. It states that the Directorate Health Services has deputed doctors and health professionals for public awareness in this regard.
The order directs that the Department of Legal Metrology and the Drug Control Organisation with active support of executive magistrates and police shall continue to conduct daily checks in markets and ensure that there is no violation of Essential Commodities Act 1955 and furnish daily action taken report to DDMA control room latest by 1800 hrs without fail. It states that prosecution shall be initiated against defaulters.
The order states that the Commissioner SMC shall depute five nodal officers for different zones of Srinagar district for anchoring coordination among all departments and sister agencies for ensuring that all public places including bus stops, mandis, markets, etc. are sanitised with notified disinfectants.
It instructs for further strengthening of the team of health department deputed at airport in terms of manpower and logistics for effective screening of travellers. It states that required financial support will be provided by the DDMA. It states that Chief Medical Officer in coordination with Director Airport and Commandant CISF shall also obtain services from SMC for sanitisation and disinfection measures at the airport in such regular intervals as maybe required.
The order further states that ADC Srinagar shall liaise with all local TV channels and cable operators as well as radio and FM channels to augment their efforts for community awareness in a professional manner and extend all such logistical and financial support as maybe required for a robust community outreach. It states that a panel of doctors has also been notified for regular slots on electronics media in this regard.
It states that GIS mapping of all cases including suspects under surveillance, quarantined and isolated, tested positive or negative shall be maintained in the DDMA control room on daily basis.
The order directs trading and business organisations to take steps required to avoid overcrowding. It wants that non-compliance would result in closure thereof.
With regard to waste management, the order directs that the SMC, hospitals and other stakeholders shall ensure that necessary steps are taken for scientific waste disposal. It warns that stringent action would be taken under the solid waste management rules 2016 in case of any violations.
The order directs the essential services department to put in place mechanism for round-the-clock response to public needs and issues adding that any lapse in this regard would be the personal responsibility of concerned district officer.
It further directs that all departments shall extend such services as maybe required by the Health, SMC, Police, Transport departments or any other organisation involved in measures authorised by the competent authority for containment of spread of coronavirus infection.
It states that JD Planning DDC Srinagar Office has been designated as the Nodal Officer for extending all required logistics or financial support to concerned agencies as and when required.
It further states that the district control room of DDMA is operational 24×4 and can be contacted for any assistance or information. It also urges the citizens to report any cases of violation or any areas of concern.
The order states that in case of any violation of the directions action as warranted under rules including section 51 of the Disaster Management Act 2018, section 188 of IPC, Essential Commodities Act 1955 and rules thereof shall be initiated against offenders.
It is further directed in the order that no regulatory or prohibitory orders shall be issued by any agency or organisation or department without written consent from or consultation with the District Disaster Management Authority Srinagar as provided under the law.
2615 persons under surveillance, 3 test positive
Srinagar: According to the daily media bulletin on novel coronavirus (COVID-19), 2615 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance and, so far, three cases have tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir.
Whereas, 2060 persons have been kept under home quarantine and 28 are in hospital quarantine, it said.
Persons who are under home surveillance stand at 297 while as 230 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period.
Further, the bulletin said that 113 samples have been sent for testing, of which 105 tested as negative and three cases have tested positive, so far, while as reports of five cases are awaited till March 17, 2020.
The government has urged the general public to maintain social distancing as it is the key to stop and prevent the spread of Covid-19 from those who are infected.
“The intervention includes remaining out of crowded settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible,” the government advisory said.
Further, the government has appealed people not to panic and take care of health and protect others.
“Public in general is advised to avoid un-necessary travel and use of public transport; avoid crowded places and large gatherings, do not spit in public. People must take basic precautions for personal hygiene; frequent handwashing with soap and water and observing coughing and sneezing etiquettes,” the government advisory added.
If anyone has fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek medical care at the earliest, it urged.
The advisory also calls upon the general public to strictly follow the advisories issued by the government from time to time and rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.
