Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Mussarat Islam, today chaired a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to review functioning of Panchayat level Covid Care Centres (CCC) and Covid-19 containment measures in general.Additional Deputy Commissioner, Harbans Lal; Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Dhirendra Sharma; Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mohammad Farid Bhat; Dy. SP, Rajinder Singh Chib and Dy. CMO, Dr. Iqbal Bhat attended the meeting in person, while SDMs, Tehsildars besides several other members of the DDMA attended the meeting through virtual mode.The DC took a detailed review of the functioning of 5 bedded Covid Care Centres established in all 143 Panchayats of the district. He directed the management committees to ensure RAT testing at Panchayat level and submit progress reports on a daily basis. He stressed on optimum utilization of CCCs adding that with testing and isolation facilities these can act as effective tools to contain the spread of covid infection in rural areas.The DC directed Tehsildars and BDOs to jointly manage all arrangements in CCCs. They were also asked to utilize the services of BLOs, Anganwari and ASHA workers. After listening to suggestions given by the officers on achieving the target of 100% vaccination, the DC directed the CMO and BMOs to guide people regarding the importance of Vaccination and seek cooperation of public representatives in motivating targeted unvaccinated people. He also directed them to start administering the due second dose to 60 years and above people. The DC also directed SDMs, Tehsildars, Police Department and other enforcement agencies to strictly implement Covid appropriate behavior, including mandatory wearing of face masks, washing of hands and maintaining physical distance, besides orders issued for opening of markets as per schedule.The Police Department was also asked to keep a check on Dhabas and other halting points alongside NH-44 to ensure that people adhere to COVID appropriate behavior. While reviewing the functioning of Covid control rooms set up at district and block level, helpline numbers and progress on contact tracing, the DC directed CMO and BMO to accelerate contact tracing to test and isolate suspected persons, if found Covid positive.