Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo today convened a meeting to review cluster surveillance and contract tracing process aimed to contain spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.The meeting was attended by Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K; Principal Government Medical College Jammu; Director Health Services, Jammu; State Surveillance Officer Jammu; Surveillance Medical Officer; Programme Manager, SHS, J&K.Deputy Commissioners of all districts, OSD, Health and Medical Education Department, Principals of Government Medical Colleges Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kathua, Rajouri and Doda, Director Health Services Kashmir, Chief Medical Officers, and State Surveillance Officer, Kashmir participated in the meeting via video conferencing.During the meeting, the Financial Commissioner directed the concerned authorities to strictly adhere to the guidelines and protocol with regard to contact tracing surveillance and sample collection in red zones.It was said that red zones will see a 100 percent lockdown and shall be completely sealed for any movement. Whereas there shall be only one opening to the red zone which would be manned by the naka party at the point of entry and exit.
The meeting was also told that the only movement across the red zone boundaries would be for essential supplies, medical emergencies, fumigation, sanitation and of enforcement personnel.It was further informed that movement at entry and exit points to the red zones would be through red zone passes and proper fumigation of vehicles and safety of personnel shall be ensured.The FC directed the concerned authorities to place entire red zone areas under surveillance and people be contacted periodically for rechecking of symptoms.It was given out that there would be cent percent survey and screening of all persons in the red zones and door-to-door surveillance procedure shall be re-issued with certain modifications.With regard to the intensifying of testing strategy, it was informed that there will be intensive testing of all high risk contacts and of all those with symptoms.It was also said that detailed health screening of the contacts and of their immediate neighbours shall be carried out and the survey results will be geo-mapped.