Srinagar administration has further stepped up its preparedness to tackle coronavirus threat having made elaborate arrangements in efforts to prevent its spread in the district.In addition to screening arrangements at the Srinagar airport where all arrivals are screened before allowed to proceed to their respective destinations the health department of the administration has set up diagnosis and isolation facilities across the district.Isolation wards for suspected cases have been set up at various health institutions including at SMHS and SKIMS hospitals where ventilator facilities have also been reserved therefor.These facilities which have also been set at Chanpora, Sanatnagar and Noorbagh areas in uptown and downtown areas will be operational round-the clock.The administration has also designated nodal officers and set up dedicated helpline numbers to report suspected cases or to raise diagnosis requests. The former include District Epidemiologist Dr Tasaduq (9906666077), ZMO SR Gunj Dr Mumtaza (9419062633), ZMO Khanyar Dr Tariq (9596007400), ZMO Batamaloo Dr Sameena (9906721302), ZMO Zadibal 9419078467, Dr Fozia (9419078467) and BMO Hazratbal Dr Hashmat (9419018715).The helplines which can be contacted at 9419028251, 9419028242, 9419014723 and 9419010363 will be available round-the-clock.Meanwhile a sensitisation meeting of concerned officers and field officials of the administration was held here Saturday under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.Health department officials and doctors who were present briefed the meeting about the challenges this virus presents being a new strain with little information about it and the importance of an active surveillance mechanism to quarantine suspects aimed at preventing its spread.
Regional Director Health & Family Welfare GoI Dr Shazia Wafai while briefing the meeting about details about it stressed the importance of a foolproof detection mechanism. Chief Medical Officer Srinagar Dr Talat Jabeen who was also present briefed the meeting about health department's preparedness to tackle it.The DC while speaking on the occasion said response mechanism to deal with this challenge has been activated across the district. He appealed for public cooperation in the matter while emphasising the importance of self-reporting and quarantining to prevent its spread.He said the arrangements made in this regard in the district are all about prevention and must not lead to panic. He appealed to the media which had been invited to cover this sensitisation meeting to play its important role in informing the public appropriately about it. He stressed the message should encourage to take precautions rather than scare.Stepping up of preparedness in the district comes in the wake of the World Health Organisation's declaration of coronavirus as a global health emergency after the outbreak continues to spread outside China. The meeting today is the second in three days held to review preparedness in the district to tackle the threat it poses.Meanwhile rapid response teams have been activated - one in each health zone of the district - across the district. These teams will be monitoring the situation round-the-clock and taking measures to prevent and control the spread of the virus.Quarantining to prevent its spread in the district involves isolation of suspected cases for two weeks after last contact with environment where the virus has been reported.