Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, today asked the Deputy Commissioners and health officials to conduct sampling of truck drivers during their movement in their respective districts to contain spread of COVID-19.The Div Com issued these directions while chairing a meeting convened with DCs and other concerned officers to review the COVID-19 containment measures in the districts.The meeting was attended by General Manager, FCI, Nihar Raja, SSP Traffic National Highways, JS Johal, State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Arun Manhas, RTO Jammu, Dhananter Singh, SSP Traffic Jammu, Joginder Singh, SP South, Deepak Digra, DGM, Indian Oil Companies, Rajiv Yadav, Deputy Director Health, Dr Sanjay Sharma, CMO Jammu, Dr J P Singh and other concerned officers while Deputy Commissioners along with other concerned officers of Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur and Ramban attended the meeting through video conferencing.
The meeting had threadbare discussion on containment measures including scaling up of sampling for COVID-19 in the districts, testing of truckers and other important issues.The Div Com stressed on 100 per cent sampling of truckers who arrive in J&K on a regular basis carrying oil, food grains and other essentials.The Div Com sought details regarding the number of trucks arriving Jammu and Kashmir on a regular basis and was informed by GM FCI and DGM IOC that around 2000 trucks arrive here per day on regular basis.The Div Com directed the concerned officers to conduct a comprehensive survey and share the exact number of trucks ply on regular basis in J&K so that their sampling could be planned and done accordingly.DC Kathua informed that they have conducted over 4423 tests of truck drivers who came from red zones, of which, 23 drivers were found COVID-19 positive while sampling of rest of the drivers is in progress. The Div Com asked the DCs to identify suitable spots for setting up of sampling centres at various locations in their respective districts for samplings of truck drivers for the virus. He also asked them to issue health cards after sampling of the drivers.