*One COVID-19 +ve recovers, sent for home quarantine
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 23: To face any eventuality due to Coronavirus pandemic, Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to close routine activities in several hospitals and convert others into isolation and quarantine facilities while no fresh case of dreaded virus has been reported for fifth consecutive day today from any part of the Union Territory but in a positive development one of the three COVID-19 positive patients who was under hospital quarantine at GMC Jammu was discharged today after she consistently turned negative.
Official sources told Excelsior that in Jammu, the Government has decided to dedicate the Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar entirely including newly constructed 200-Bedded Block, for COVID-19 patients. However, OPD services will continue in the existing OPD Block.
“It has also been decided that GB Pant Hospital, Satwari and Police Hospital Jammu will be made functional for isolation facilities in consultation with concerned authorities. Further, Psychiatric Disease Hospital Jammu will also be converted into Isolation Hospital,” they said, adding, the patients of Psychiatric Hospital shall be shifted to CD Hospital, Jammu.
They further informed that isolation facilities have also been assured by ASCOMS Jammu, Narayana Hospital, Kakrayal (Katra) and some other private hospitals.
Sources said these important decisions were taken today during a meeting which was chaired by Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo to review preparedness of COVID-19. They said several other decisions for mobilizing the human resource for effective functioning of isolation and quarantine facilities were taken.
“In the Kashmir division, apart from isolation facilities in its various hospitals, the Government has decided to convert SKIMS Medical College, Bemina (Srinagar), C D Hospital Srinagar and JLNM Hospital Srinagar entirely for isolation purposes,” sources revealed, adding, Police Hospital will also be kept reserved for isolation facilities.
They informed that the newly constructed IPD blocks in the District Hospitals of Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian and Kupwara will be used for setting up isolation facilities while some private hospitals have also agreed to provide isolation facilities.
Sources disclosed that the Financial Commissioner (FC) also passed directions to the officials to mobilize the human resources and the necessary equipments and also prepared a duty roster of specialists and doctors in order to make these isolation facilities fully functional.
Besides, the hospital authorities were asked to postpone all non essential and elective surgeries. It was also decided to utilize services of NHM/ISM doctors and Mid-level Health Providers (MLHPs) from Health and Wellness Centres and also carry out redeployment of doctors, specialists and paramedical staff from the peripheries in case the need arises.
Sources further informed that Financial Commissioner also decided to expedite the walk in interview for the medical officers by the National Health Mission on an urgent basis to meet any exigency arisen due to COVID-19.
Meanwhile, sources said that a female COVID-19 positive patient who was under hospital quarantine at GMC Jammu was discharged today after she consistently turned negative for the virus. They said that the patient will remain in home quarantine for 14 days and under surveillance for another 14 days as per the guidelines of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
However, the daily Media Bulletin of the J&K Government on novel coronavirus (COVID-19) did not mention about discharge of any Coronavirus positive patient from hospital quarantine. As per the Bulletin, 256 samples have been sent for testing till date out of which four tested as positive, 231 reports were negative while 21 reports are still awaited.
The Bulletin said 4329 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance, 2916 persons kept under home quarantine and 50 are in hospital quarantine. “878 persons are under home surveillance while as 485 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period,” it said.
In the meantime, all the elective surgeries at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu and its Associated Hospitals have been postponed till further orders, to prevent the spread of coronavirus and curtail the flow of attendants and patients.
In the Union Territory of Ladakh also, no fresh case was reported today. “16 samples were received today from Delhi are negative for COVID-19,” Commissioner Secretary (Health), Ladakh, Rigzin Samphel told reporters. He said out of 16 reports received today, 12 were from Kargil and 4 from Leh district.
Sampheal also informed that the condition of pilgrims from Ladakh who were evacuated from Iran and quarantined at Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) are in a good condition. He further said that all the 13 positive cases in UT of Ladakh are stable.
In view of increase work-load for the employees of Medical Department, the Commissioner Secretary also appealed retried doctors of the two districts to join OPD for 3-4 hours time to assist the serving medical employees and help in the fight against spread of COVID-19.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
