Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, who is overall in-charge of coronavirus control efforts in Kashmir, Monday inspected various Covid-19 screening centres to take stock of arrangements put in place at these facilities for detection of suspected cases.The Advisor visited Zig, Jawahar Tunnel, Toll Post Lower Munda and Emergency Hospital Qazigund to take first-hand assessment of arrangements for screening of passengers and travellers arriving Kashmir valley.District Development Commissioner Anantnag, Bashir Ahmad Dar, District Development Commissioner Kulgam, Showkat Aijaz Bhat, ADDC Anantnag, Khwaja Nazir Ahmad, SSP Kulgam, Gurinder Pal Sing, CMOs of both the districts and other concerned accompanied the Advisor.The Advisor directed the concerned to ensure 100 percent screening of all the passengers and travellers to check the spread of novel coronavirus. He said that two more screening centres shall be established at the Toll Post to ensure hassle-free screening of the passengers.He also directed for ensuring smooth movement of various vehicles including the contract carriers, trucks and other essential supply carriers through designated screening centres.Earlier, at Screening Centre Zig, the Advisor was briefed by both the DDCs regarding the arrangements put in place at various screening centres in their respective jurisdictions. He was informed that screening centres and help desks equipped with doctors and technical staff have been deputed at designated locations including Railway Stations and main entry points of both the districts.
It was said that sufficient quarantine wards have been kept ready in all sub-divisions and Tehsils of the districts. In addition, special teams have been constituted to monitor the situation at District, Block and Zonal levels.The Advisor was informed that in Anantnag isolation beds are being provided to GMC Anantnag, adding that quarantine facilities have been made at PHC Verinag, SDH Dooru, Emergency Hospital Qazigund, SDH Kokernag, PHC Aakora, PHC Sallar, PHC Adlash, PHC Pahalgam, NTPHC Veeri, and SDH Bijbehara besides at five JKTDC Huts at Pahalgam.It was given out that 1000-bedded facility will be made available at various GDCs and Eqlaviya Model School at Salia.The Advisor was also informed that District Administration Anantnag has put 50 students who arrived from Bangladesh in quarantine at Pahalgam after screening under medical surveillance as a precautionary measure.It was said that the district is geared up to fight the threat of Covid–19 outbreak, adding that fumigation and sanitation drives are being carried out at all public places across the district.The Advisor was also briefed about the surveillance teams that have been already constituted for thermal screening of the individuals having travel history of affected countries, besides Rapid Response Teams are working in unison with the surveillance teams which report on a daily basis.Meanwhile, Advisor Baseer Khan directed both the DDCs to involve PRIs to educate the public regarding the measures to prevent spread of Covid–19. He sought cooperation from the general public to tackle the situation and to prevent spread of the infection. He also appealed the people to strictly adhere to government advisories.