Biometric attendance in entire J&K UT suspended
All primary schools in 7 distts closed
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 7: Panic griped both the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh today after two cases of coronavirus were reported positive in Leh and two suspects were found having high viral load in Jammu, prompting the authorities to declare closure of all primary schools in Jammu, Samba, Leh and four Kashmir districts till March 31 and suspension of all biometric attendance in J&K.
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“The test reports of the two suspected coronavirus patients were received today, which said they were high viral-load cases. There is a high probability of their testing positive for the infection,” a Government spokesperson said, adding both the patients were kept in isolation at the Government Medical College, Jammu.
“They are stable and all protocols are being followed,” he further said, adding, the two patients with a travel history to coronavirus-hit Italy and South Korea had fled the hospital’s isolation ward on Wednesday shortly after their admission, but were brought back within hours.
Regarding screening of the suspected cases, the spokesperson said “287 cases were put under active surveillance; 95 of these have completed the surveillance period of 28 days.” He informed that 28 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far out of which 25 have been reported negative and two reported having high viral load but their final report is awaited.
Meanwhile, authorities in Ladakh Union Territory today declared that two cases of coronavirus have been found positive in Leh.
Addressing a press conference at CMO office Leh, Commissioner Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Ladakh UT, Rigzin Sampheal along with CMO Dr Motup Dorje said, “Two cases of COVID-19 have been found positive in Leh and both the patients are presently under treatment at SNM Hospital, Leh”.
Sampheal disclosed that both the patients had gone for pilgrimage to Iran. “While one patient reached Delhi on February 26 by Tehran Daily flight and on February 28 at Leh by Delhi-Leh flight, other patient arrived at Delhi on February 22 by Tehran Daily flight and Leh on February 27 by Delhi-Leh flight,” he added.
He said they were screened at Leh Airport on arrival and their samples were sent to NIV Pune for testing. “Today, we got reports of both the patients and they have been found positive for COVID-19,” the Commissioner Secretary announced.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure in view of coronavirus threat, the J&K administration has ordered suspension of classwork for primary classes in both Government as well as private schools of Jammu and Samba districts in Jammu province and Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla and Bandipora districts in Kashmir province with immediate effect.
“In case of any examination in respect of primary classes scheduled during this period, the same shall stand postponed and the schools shall notify fresh dates separately,” an order issued by Director School Education Jammu, Anuradha Gupta said, adding, teachers shall continue to attend the schools.
The J&K Government also announced an immediate suspension of all biometric attendance in the Union territory till March 31, while advising people not to panic as adequate measures were put in place to meet the challenge.
In a notification issued today, J&K Board of School Education (BOSE) said as a precautionary measure against coronavirus, the candidates appearing in various ongoing BOSE Annual-Regular 2020 Examinations in Jammu Division can use masks and carry sanitizers with them to the examination centres, if they so desire.
In the Union Territory of Ladakh also, the administration announced closure of all schools in Leh district up to the primary level. “In view of the prevailing circumstances and as a precautionary measure, all the Primary schools (both Government and private affiliated to J&K BOSE/CBSE and ICDS centres within Leh district shall remain closed till March 31,” the order issued by District Magistrate Leh-Ladakh said.
In the wake of coronavirus threat, Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) also issued an advisory today asking all the foreigners visiting J&K UT to fill-up the self-declaration forms that they have not visited any coronavirus affected country in the recent past, informing that such forms are available at Health Counters established at all entry points i.e. Lakhanpur, Jammu Airport, Railway Station and Hotels.
“If you feel sick or symptoms of coronavirus while de-boarding the flight or train or vehicle while coming to Jammu, immediately report the matter to Airport Health Office and disseminate the information immediately to Helpline numbers 0191-2520982 (Control Room, Directorate of Health Services), 0191-2582621 (CID SB C/R Jammu), 0191-2582634 (FRO Jammu) and 0191-254967 (UT call for MK),” the advisory read.
Meanwhile, shortage or non-availability of masks and sanitizers in Jammu hospitals as well as open market further escalated the panic with Directorate of Health Services Jammu transferring a doctor for demanding masks and sanitizers and Doctors Association Jammu (DAJ) declaring closure of non-emergency services in all hospitals of Jammu province on March 10 in protest.
Official sources told Excelsior that there is severe shortage of masks and sanitizers in Government health institutions in Jammu province including Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu and even doctors who are dealing thousands of patients daily are not getting the same.
“J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited has failed to give supply of masks and hand sanitizers despite receiving requirement from the health institutions in advance,” they said, adding, medical superintendents of the hospitals are being told again and again by the higher authorities to arrange masks themselves but from where nobody is telling as these items are not available even in open market.
Speaking to Excelsior, Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Renu Sharma said shortage of masks and sanitizers is not only in Jammu but all over the country due to scare of coronavirus. “A major part of these items are imported from China but that country has almost stopped the supply as they themselves are reeling under shortage of the same. However, medical superintendents are procuring masks and sanitizers in small quantity from the open market as these are not available in bulk even in market”, she added.
“Due to high demand in view of coronavirus scare, the supply of masks has increased manifold. Everything is procuring the same. We are not getting the suppliers as of now but recently we have provided 2.5 to 3 lakh masks to Government health institutions,” said MD, JKMSCL Shiv Kumar Gupta, when contacted. He added “we are trying our best to procure the same but no supplier is coming forward.”
Prem Sharma, general secretary, All Druggists and Chemists Association said, “Shortage of hand sanitisers and masks has arisen in the city because consumption and usage of these products have increased thrice but the production and supply is less as was earlier”.
“We procured about 100 masks yesterday but all of them were sold out the same day”. He said for the past three days especially when positive cases were reported in India, people have become cautious and started using masks and hand sanitizers,” said Yogesh Jyotshi, a retail druggist. Presently we are running out of stock of masks and hand sanitizers and the supply is also limited, he added.
Another dealer said they there is very short supply of masks and sanitizers and that too on higher rates due to which they are bound to sell a normal mask between 40- 50 rupees. “Earlier, the same was being sold at Rs 15-20,” he added.
Meanwhile, a doctor serving in District Hospital Udhampur was transferred today by Director Health Services Jammu on his alleged demand of providing masks and hand sanitizers to the doctors of the Hospital.
“The coronavirus is spreading worldwide and doctors treating patients are on high risk of getting infected, I have requested the Director Health to provide proper masks, gloves and hand sanitizers to doctors and health workers, telephonically this morning after which I was transferred,” Dr Balvinder Singh, president, Doctors Association Jammu (DAJ) alleged.
He said that most of the hospitals are not providing masks and hand sanitisers to doctors of the UT, thus, “I requested the Director to arrange the same but she got annoyed and transferred me to Emergency Hospital, Batote. Condemning the incident strongly,” Dr Balvinder Singh said DAJ demands masks and sanitizers within 72 hours and revocation of the transfer order immediately failing which the Association will shutdown non-emergency services in all Government hospitals of Jammu Division on March 10.
However, Director Health Services Jammu denied all the allegations. She said that the doctor was already posted there and was deployed at DH Udhampur for four days a week. “We have just told him to attend his original place of posting and that order was also issued about 3 days back,” the Director added.
Meanwhile, the State Drug Controller, Lokita Khajuria warned the dealers of drugs against any hoarding of masks and hand sanitizers. She said if anybody is found in indulging in unfair/unethical/mal-trade practices, the Department shall initiate strict punitive action against such violator/offender.
Meanwhile, amid coronavirus scare, Director Health Services Jammu, cancelled leave of all the employees working under the Directorate except those on maternity leave.
The order issued by the Director Health read: “All the employees working under the Directorate stand cancelled except maternity leaves”.
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