District Surveillance Committee Srinagar Wednesday met under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary to devise an action plan to prevent and control spread of Coronovirus in the district.Chief Medical Officer Srinagar Dr Talat Jabeen who is the co-chairperson and other members of the committee attended the meeting.The meeting discussed the response mechanism required to be activated and the requirements that need to be made available to prevent spread and control of the virus in the district.The DC directed for immediate and district-wide awareness campaigns about coronavirus and the measures that need to taken to prevent and control its spread. He direct for issuing advisories and spreading awareness about it at zonal and block levels across the district.The meeting was informed that rapid response teams have been activated - one in each health zone of the district - across the district adding that these teams will be monitoring the situation on the round-the-clock basis and taking measures to prevent and control the spread of the virus.It is was informed that these teams are also being trained to handle public concerns and readiness to deal with challenges in this regard.The DC directed for designating nodal points with nodal officers in each district and sub-district hospital in the district. He directed for establishing quarantine wards in each hospital and health centre where those suspected with having acquired the virus can be admitted in order to prevent spread of the infection.
The meeting was informed that isolation wards have already been established at tertiary-care hospitals like SMHS and SKIMS.Dr Shahid asked the health authorities of the district and other concerned authorities to submit details of logistics that might be required to handle contingencies stressing the importance of being well-equipped to be able to deal with challenges in this regard.The meeting was informed that special screening arrangements are being made at the Srinagar airport adding that arrivals are being screened before leaving the airport to ensure that those suspected to be affected with the virus are quarantined the aim being to prevent the spread of the virus.It was informed that the medical staff deployed at the airport has been equipped with necessary logistics to enable them to handle the task at hand and tackling any suspected cases.Dr Shahid further directed for identifying gaps and laboratory support that might be required to identify suspected cases and then control its spread. He also reviewed the hospital preparedness in terms of isolation and ventilator management of suspected cases. Capacity for laboratory diagnosis in hospitals was also reviewed during the meeting.Meanwhile a district-level control room and helplines at zonal levels are being established in the district. Their establishment is aimed at quick reporting of suspected cases and ensuring quick response aimed at prevention and control of the virus.