Bandipora locality declared ‘Micro Containment Zone’ after reporting fresh COVID-19 fatality, infections
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir recorded 501 fresh positive cases of COVID-19 and two deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the overall infection tally to 132439, officials said today.
A government spokesman said that 393 cases were reported from Kashmir while 108 persons tested positive in Jammu region.
He said two COVID-19 deaths were reported from Jammu.
The official said that 3574 cases are active in the union territory, including 840 in Jammu and 2734 in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, authorities in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district have ordered closure of five schools after 18 students and a teacher tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kulgam, Mohammad Ashraf Rather said that 18 students and a teacher tested positive for COVID-19 in five different educational institutions following which it was decided to close down the institutions for three days.
The positive cases include 10 students from Government High School Sopat, four students from Middle School Bonigam, two students and a teacher from Middle School Devsar, two from Government Higher Secondary Katrasoo and a student from Government Middle School Sopat.
The schools shall reopen only after getting clearance from CMO Kulgam, he said, adding that the samples of students and staffers will be taken again before opening schools.
Giving further details, CEO said that three private educational institutions and two coaching centers were also closed for not following COVID-19 SOPs.
Authorities on Saturday also ordered closure of a school in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district for a one week after three of its teachers were reported positive for COVID-19.
News agency GNS quoted Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore Parvaiz Sajad Ganai saying the school shall remain shut for teachers and students for a week as a precautionary measure to contain further disease spread.
Pertinently, amid rising number of COVID-19 cases lately, the government on Friday authorised Deputy Commissioners to take call on keeping open or closing the schools in respective districts amid a surge in infections in the union territory.
Meanwhile, authorities on Saturday declared Jan-Mohalla locality of Kaloosa, Nathpora in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district as a ‘Micro Containment Zone’ after a COVID-19 related death was reported from the locality even as five positive cases also surfaced in the area, officials said.
Quoting an order issued by Deputy Commissioner Bandipora in this regard, news agency KNO reported that in view of detection of the fresh fatality and infections in the said locality, it has become imperative to initiate necessary measures under Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 and Disaster Management Act, 2005 for immediate prevention of spread of the virus and for the safety and prevention any harm to human life.
While declaring the locality as a Micro Containment Zone, the order said that there shall be strict perimeter control within 100 meters of the said area in a bid to contain further disease spread.
Besides, Chief Medical Officer, Bandipora has been asked to initiate “vigorous and extensive contact tracing of all the fresh reported positive cases and 100% subsequent sampling of all such contacts”.
Sampling of service providers, co-morbids and other vulnerable shall also be ensured as per SOP, it added.
The order further reads that Tehsildar Bandipora shall be the Nodal officer vis-a-vis providing of magisterial assistance wherever required and any other Issue of urgent nature, as may be reported in the said Micro Containment Zone while SHO Police Station Bandipora has been asked to provide necessary police assistance, wherever required.
The order further stated that any violation of this order shall invite punitive action under Section 188 IPC and other relevant provisions of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
5 security personnel posted at High Court in Srinagar test positive
At least five security forces personnel posted at High Court in Srinagar have tested positive for COVID-19.
They include three CRPF men of 44 battalion and two other security forces personnel posted inside the premises, news agency KNO reported while quoting official sources.
Like elsewhere in India, J&K is witnessing a surge in COVID-19 infections lately.
