COVID lockdown imposed in five wards in Srinagar
Srinagar: District administration Srinagar on Monday ordered imposition of “corona curfew” in five wards of the district for ten days in view of spike in virus cases.
Sources quoting an order by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Mohammad Aijaz, which comes into effect immediately, as saying that the administrative wards 11 (Lal Bazar), 32 (Hyderpora), 31 (Chanapora), 27 (Bemina Hamdania Colony) and 24 (Bemina Housing Colony) have been placed under “corona curfew”.
“There has been a steep rise in Covid positive cases in District Srinagar in the last 17 days which needs interventional and effective measures,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
He said the identified hotspots have been declared micro-containment zones vide various orders in order to check the spread of the disease.
“Certain measures, u/s 144 CrPC were in place for containment of spread of coronavirus, largely aimed at prohibition on public gathering and movement of public transport,” he said, adding, “it has observed that around 63 percent of the daily positive cases during these days have been detected from few particular areas.”
The above measures have not led to significant decline in the number of cases and more stringent measures are needed to ensure that the infection does not spread exponentially, he said.
“The strict containment measures are also required in order to ensure safety of the general public and to prevent transmission of Covid-19 to other parts of District Srinagar,” he said, adding “the situation has been reviewed and after obtaining feedback from the stakeholder agencies it has been felt expedient to put in place reasonable restrictions to minimize the chances of public gatherings and eliminate the epidemic spread chain in every form.”
Subsequently he ordered the “corona curfew” for 10 days. “The order shall be in force w.e.f 12:00AM of 09-November-2021.”
As per the permissible activities all essential services including all incidental services and activities needed for smooth functioning of these activities shall be allowed to continue, both in the public and private sector.
“Standalone grocery/vegetable/meat/milk shops may also remain open and functional to ensure provisioning of essential supplies from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM only.”
There will be no hindrance to the smooth movement of goods and essential supplies, the order reads.
There shall be no restriction on the movement of government officials for attending office/duties, on production of I-Cards/official orders.
“All development/construction works shall be allowed to continue without any hindrance,” the order reads, adding, “The vaccination drive shall not be halted. Localized mobile teams shall be constituted to provide vaccination in colonies, residential areas and containment zones.”
As per order there shall be a 24 hour complete “corona curfew” with no movement of people except for permissible activities only.
“All educational institutions shall remain closed,” the order reads, adding, “all shopping complexes, bazaars, saloons, barber shops, cinema halls, restaurants, sport complexes, gyms, spas, swimming pools, parks, zoos, etc, if any shall remain closed.”
No social gatherings or functions whether indoors or outdoors shall be allowed. “The permitted ceiling for marriage shall be restricted to 20 persons only. The gathering at funerals shall be limited to 10 persons only.”
There will be no ingress and egress of the public permitted in these areas except in case of medical exigencies, the order added.
DHSK directs setting up testing centres as COVID cases spike
Director Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) on Monday directed Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents and Block Medical Officers in the Valley to set up COVID-19 testing facilities at places involving social gatherings to ensure COVID-appropriate behaviour amid a spike in virus cases.
In a communique, DHSK, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather asked the health officials to set up the testing centres at social places, marriage functions and religious gatherings in their respective jurisdictions.
The officials have also been asked to outline the plan for setting up such centres and share it with the DHSK.
