Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kupwara today said that Health department has rendered exemplary service during COVID-19 pandemic across district Kupwara.It was informed that, at the time of outbreak of the pandemic, necessary gears like Masks, Sanitizers, PPE Kits, Pulse Oximeters, Laryngoscope, Air purifiers, Suction Machines, spray pumps, semi fowler beds etc were arranged at war footing basis to avoid any kind of eventuality.The CMO said that the procurement of the items has been done from Govt e market place (GEM) portal and after following proper codal formalities in vogue.It was also informed that the district administration has established 18 Covid care centres in the entire district having capacity of 1150 within the district like SDH Kupwara, PHC Nutnussa, PHC Trehgam, ANMT School Kupwara, PHC Cheerkote, JNV Putshi, and University Camps Whyne SDH Langate etc where necessary equipment and manpower has been already in place.She added that all the required health care facilities, dietary facilities were provided to the inmates as well as covid staff as decided by the committee members framed for the said purpose.CMO said, “Extensive screening of population in Red Zones and Buffer zone under Covid-19 protocol was carried out and around 61137 souls till date has been screened and in this regard about 28 RRT teams were deployed for the purpose throughout the district”.CMO said that some news agencies and whatsapp groups are spreading baseless news regarding ‘Misappropriation of funds in CMO office’ adding that the reports published are baseless and fabricated in nature.She said, the report quoting anonymous sources is based on false information and the concerned news agency has not bothered to take the official version into account and the allegation labeled is a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of this department and its employees who have rendered priceless services during the Covid-19 pandemic.The CMO also said that the Health department has not received any grant for the fencing of SDH Kupwara during current financial year which the report mentions as a scandal is false and baseless and added that the reports published without any authenticity from the concerned authority are creating unnecessary hurdles in the smooth functioning of the health care facilities.