Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered an inquiry to fix responsibility as to why a COVID-19 suspect, who later tested positive, was allowed to leave a hospital where he had gone for treatment with signs of infection.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole, taking serious note of the lapse, had on Wednesday directed Medical Superintendent and head of the chest medicine department SKIMS hospital Bemina to explain their position forthwith.
He also directed Additional Commissioner Kashmir Tassaduq Hussain Mir to inquire into the matter for action against the officers.
Mir has been directed to submit a report within two days.
Pole said the inquiry had nothing to do with the coronavirus patient who died on Thursday.
“The inquiry has been ordered not for punitive purposes but with curative objectives so that such incidents are not repeated,” the Divisional commissioner told PTI.
According to a report furnished by the Principal SKIMS Medical College, the patient had reported to the casualty department of SKIMS Hospital Bemina on Mar 21 along with his travel history and was found to be a COVID-19 suspect.
The report said the patient, who tested positive later on, was not handled as per the required protocol.
The report castigated the hospital administration for not informing the district administration and police as the patient had a travel history and showed symptoms of COVID-19 but was not admitted.
“The patient has been given ample time to spread the virus by intermingling with public and relatives,” the report added.
Official prosecuted for denying equipment to quarantine facility in Tral
Srinagar: Prosecution proceedings have been initiated against the Principal of the Degree College at Tral in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir for violating the district administration’s orders and not providing the requisite equipment for newly established quarantine facilities, an official said Thursday.
“Prosecution proceedings have been initiated against Principal, Degree College, Tral for violating orders of district administration and not providing equipment including LPG gas heaters, electric heaters, generator sets, computer systems for the newly established quarantine facilities,” an official spokesperson said.
The college has been turned into a quarantine facility for suspected cases of coronavirus.
Action has been initiated under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 against the principal, a government official, for his failure to perform the duties assigned to him and for obstructing government functionaries in discharging their duties, the spokesperson said.
He said termination notices were issued to two employees of the District Tuberculosis Centre who were found to be absent when the District Magistrate was inspecting the preparations to deal with COVID-19 cases at the centre.
District Magistrate, Pulwama reiterated that any laxity on the part of government functionaries involved in discharging duties related to prevention of COVID-19 shall be dealt with under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and relevant penal provisions.
He advised government employees to be proactive and make extra effort towards preventing the COVID-19 pandemic.
