Jammu: Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting with COVID-19 Task Force and other senior officers to review the pandemic situation in the Union Territory, officials said.
The coronavirus case count in Jammu and Kashmir reached 3,41,459 on Saturday after the detection of 169 fresh cases, while two more fatalities pushed the death toll to 4,530.
Chairing the meeting at the Raj Bhawan here with Covid Task Force and DCs, SPs, the LG issued directions for ensuring functioning of oxygen plants, availability of requisite medicines, audit of ICU and oxygen supported beds across all hospitals in the UT, in view of the new variant and rise in the cases across the country, an official press release informed.
It said the LG directed deputy commissioners and health officials to ensure the infrastructure beginning from the Panchayat level is strengthened and optimally utilized. Health teams in the districts were directed to focus on prompt contact tracing, audit of oxygen cylinders and concentrators as well as availability and functioning of ventilators.
The meeting discussed the time-bound implementation of the action plan of Covid vaccination drive for 15-18 years age group to be started on January 03, 2022.
Enquiring about the modalities and preparations done for smooth administering of Covid vaccine to the 15-18 age group, the LG directed for ensuring observance of mandatory monitoring period of 30 minutes of each inoculated person.
District-wise status of Covid containment measures was sought from the respective deputy commissioners where they informed the chair about the implementation of Covid protocols and awareness campaigns being run to sensitise people regarding the danger of omicron variant of Covid.
The LG directed the Health department and district teams to keep their men and machinery ready, health infra, testing and vaccination capacities up to the mark and undertake a dry run of PSA oxygen plants and other health equipment for effective management of any emergent situation.
Reviewing various parameters of Covid analysis, the LG underlined the importance of following Covid-appropriate behaviour, which includes maintaining social distancing and wearing masks. He directed the district administrations to ensure proper implementation of Covid Protocol and following of CAB in their districts.
Directions were also issued to Directors of Health Services Jammu, and Kashmir to conduct a meticulous mock-drill for preparing their resources to deal with any emergent situation.
The LG asked the deputy commissioners and CMOs to submit a joint report enlisting the steps of preparation and status of health infra and human resources in their respective districts to effectively deal with any emergent situation.
He also congratulated people of Anantnag and Budgam for completing 100 percent coverage of 2nd dose of Covid vaccine.
Vivek Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education department gave a detailed briefing on the analysis of Covid-19 situation, district-wise threat level, testing, contact-tracing and vaccination across the UT, besides vaccine stock, and preparations for administering vaccine to 15-18 age group, the press release said.
