Coronavirus: Shutdown in J&K, Ladakh UTs till Mar 31
‘Janata Curfew’ shuts Kashmir, streets deserted
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Mar 22: Kashmir today observed ‘Janata Curfew’ on the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with streets looking deserted as people stayed indoors while over 1200 people mostly students with travel history of Coronavirus hit countries have been sent to 14 days quarantine during last three days.
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The nation-wide ‘Janata Curfew’ was observed across Kashmir today as the shutdown was near total and most people remained indoors.
All the roads wore a deserted look right from the morning with people staying indoors and only those associated with essential services like milk vendors, pharmacy and employees involved in fighting Coronavirus were only seen out.
Policemen in Srinagar were seen holding placards that read “Avoid social gatherings” and the likes, sending a strong message to the people not only for the day but for the days to come in battling the deadly virus.
The life across Kashmir’s other districts also came to a standstill with people remaining indoors, and shops and other business establishments remaining shut. There was no movement of vehicles on both national and other major roads during the day. However, in the evening people with emergencies were travelling.
IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said police appealed public through vehicle mounted public address systems not to come out tomorrow in view of lockdown. He said that police is also making videos through thermal capability based drones. He appealed people not to come out in the evening otherwise the purpose of the lockdown is not served. He asked people to stay indoors for breaking the virus chain.
And in the meantime, six samples of the symptomatic people have tested negative in Kashmir valley even as six more persons were admitted to isolation facilities in CD hospital today.
Nodal officer for coronavirus control at SKIMS, Dr G H Yatoo said that three test reports were received and included that of a contact of COVID-19 patient who was admitted to SKIMS hospital on late Saturday evening. He said that no person was admitted today at the isolation facility set up at the tertiary care hospital.
HoD CD Hospital Srinagar Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah said that six more symptomatic persons were admitted to the isolation facility set up at the hospital. He said three sample reports were received and all of them were negative.
So far, only one person, a 67-year-old woman from Srinagar’s Khanyar area, has tested positive for the Coronavirus in Kashmir valley. She is, however, recuperating.
The Government has appealed that any person with travel history to COVID-19 affected countries or person in contact with such a traveller, whether they are having symptoms or not, must remain in 14 days home quarantine. If any person feels unwell having cough, fever or difficulty in breathing that person should avoid exposure to others and seek medical care at the earliest.
The Government has also urged the general public to maintain social distancing as it is the key to stop and prevent the spread of COVID-19 from those who are infected.
“The intervention includes remaining out of crowded settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible,” the Government advisory said.
Further, the Government has appealed people not to panic and take care of health and protect others.
“Public in general is advised to avoid un-necessary travel and use of public transport. Avoid un-necessary travel and use of public transport; avoid crowded places and large gatherings, do not spit in public. People must take basic precautions for personal hygiene; frequent handwashing with soap and observing coughing and sneezing etiquettes,” the Government advisory added.
And authorities in Pulwama today ordered filing of an FIR against a person who misled them by hiding travel history from Pakistan. The case against him was recommended under section 269 IPC (unlawfully or negligently doing something which is likely to spread infection of any dangerous disease to life), Section 270 IPC (malignant act likely to spread infection of dangerous disease to life), Section 271 IPC (knowingly disobeying any quarantine rule) and section 188 IPC (for disobeying any Govt order).
District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Shahid Choudhary today said that they will trace all those people who have entered Kashmir with travel history of foreign countries and quarantine them. In a series of tweets he has given details about some Kashmiris returning from foreign countries and are hiding travel histories for escaping the mandatory quarantine in the wake of Coronavirus threat.
“Four passengers” who just reached from Mauritius, Dubai and Kazakhstan, have declined to declare travel history. Done quickly by IT team. My ”WHO Guidelines wala Friends” can u pl send a ”Recorded Sermon” to help convince such people? Please? I beg. Ignore the Thick Skin and help”, he said.
“A girl coming from the United States posed as student returning from Bangladesh. A “thick skinned babu” (as we are called) insisted on passport while allotting room, got to know. USA 3rd highest COVID cases in the world. I need to attend another lecture on WHO guidelines now!!,” he said in another tweet.
“A gentleman coming from Italy reaches New Delhi via another port. Takes train to Jammu and cab to home in Srinagar. Just to hide travel history. Traced. Need collective focus to handle it. Things are not that simple as they appear from homes & office rooms. WHO guidelines anyone?, ” Choudhary said in another tweet.
“Two brothers, same medical college in Bangladesh — one travels by air, declares travel history, lands in quarantine. Other takes road goes home, probably enjoyed Wazwan. Smart neighbour informs Control Room. Team got in touch. Symptomatic. WHO guidelines lecture please?”, another tweet read.
Speaking about the crisis in the wake of Coronavirus, he appealed to people in Kashmir to set aside egos.
“Trust me if I share a summary of daily events none in Kashmir will sleep. Let”s keep our egos aside, work collectively and instead of raising panic and alarm help each other to improve. This is 3rd World War. Nothing less. If it passes we will have a Lifetime for all that. Good day,” he tweeted.
He said that administration has requisitioned 65 well-equipped hotels and government accommodations to be used as quarantine facilities for citizens arriving back in Srinagar from outside countries and those who might have come in contact with a COVID-19 positive case in the district.
The hotels requisitioned for the purpose are all 3-stars certified with all facilities to ensure comfortable quarantine. The government accommodations acquired are also all well-equipped.
The citizens adding up to 1,166 persons who arrived back in Srinagar from abroad during the last three days have been shifted to 20 of these quarantine facilities.
Overall 685 persons out of the total people having arrived back in Srinagar so far returned to a quarantine facility on Sunday. The remaining 481 persons had returned during the previous two days and had been shifted to quarantine facilities soon after their return.
District administration, Anantnag, has put 50 students in quarantine-who have arrived here from Bangladesh today.
The quarantine facility has been set up at a picturesque spot of Pahalgam in highly hygienic conditions. All the students after screening have been put under medical surveillance as a precautionary measure as per the protocol observed for the people reporting in India from abroad.
Divulging details, Deputy Commissioner, Bashir Ahmad Dar, said that the district administration has geared up to contain the COVID- 19 outbreak, adding that 16 locations have been identified for quarantine in the district.
He said fumigation and sanitation drives are being taken at all public places across the district with focus on towns.
He said district and block level control rooms have already been set up for carrying out IEC activities. He said efficient system is in place for identification of the persons reporting from COVID-19 affected countries for which 12 rapid response medical teams along with 10 dedicated ambulances are being made use of.
Meanwhile, the district administration has devised a plan for distribution of essentials among the consumers at their door steps.
And the Health authorities today closed the OPD in Pulwama district hospital amid growing threat of coronavirus.
In view of COVID-19 pandemic health and medical emergency in order to reduce the OPD footfall and in the interest of community the routine OPD and Routine/elective surgical procedures have been stopped till further notice,” Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Pulwama said.
However the obstetric (maternity services) will continue to function as per the existing roster.In order to facilitate the general public the doctors of the hospital can be contacted on their mobile numbers for any advice which will be displayed on official page subsequently, he said.
“Those patients who need emergency services should have refferal cards from their concerned local health centres”, he said.
In the meantime, District Administration in Kupwara today suspended three employees (VLWs) for non-compliance of government order amid raging scare about spread of Coronavirus.
“In view of spread of COVID -19 virus and to contain the same , surveillance teams were constituted in district Kupwara vide order no DCK/PS / 2020/362-68 Dated 09/03/2020 to follow up home quarantine persons who are returning from abroad,” read an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara.
“Tehsildar Lalpora reported to (Control Room for COVID-19) telephonically on 22-03-2020 that Ab Ahad (VLW) and Mohd Lateef (VLW) presently posted in block Wavoora, who were deputed for monitoring and fallow- up of Surveillance activities in thier concenned block have refused to work out for which they were assigned and were found and co-operative in the surveillance activities,” read the order.
The order further said that Naib Tehsildar Halmatpora reported to (Control Room for COVID-19) on 22/03/2020 that Vijay Kumar (VLW) presently posted in block Halmatpora who was assigned the work of monitoring and follow up of surveillance activities in his concerned block has kept his phone switch off and found that the said employee is non-co-operative in the surveillance activities.
“Keeping in view the prevailing situation and non-compliance of Government Orders Ab Ahad (VLW) Mohd Lateef (VLW) and Vijay Kumar (VLW) are placed under suspension with immediate effect”.
“Meanwhile, ACD Kupwara shall conduct an enquiry and submit the detailed report within two days,” the order read.
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