CORONAVIRUS Mandatory screening for all incoming passengers to J&K

No case in UT so far; Checkpoints at all entry points

JAMMU: With the total number of persons tested positive for novel Coronavirus in the country rising to six, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday made it mandatory for all incoming passengers arriving in the union territory to undergo screening, even as check points with deployment of doctors have been established at railway stations, airports, bus stands and road entry points – Lakhanpur and Lower Munda.
Informing that there has been no coronavirus case in Jammu and Kashmir, the administration asserted that the Union Territory is fully geared up to deal with it, even as the situation is being closely monitored to identify all suspected cases of the virus.
Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba today held a Video-Conference with Chief Secretary and Health Secretary to review J&K’s preparedness to deal with evolving situation, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured citizens there was “no need to panic” and that ministries were working together to contain the infection, which has killed over 3,100 people worldwide.
Addressing media persons about the emerging situation due to spread of COVID-19 virus across the world, Principal Secretary, Planning and Monitoring and Information, Rohit kansal said that the situation is being closely monitored in Jammu and Kashmir to identify all suspected cases of the virus.
Ensuring that the UT of J&K is in a state of alert, Kansal said the surveillance for this virus has been increased ever since the first advisory was issued by the Government of India on 2nd February 2020.
He informed that "so far a total of 201 individuals have been contacted in Jammu and Kashmir. These include individuals who either had a travel history to countries such as China, South Korea, Iran, Thailand, Italy, South East Asia etc or came in contact with persons who had travelled to these countries.”
“As many as 21 suspected cases have been tested till date and no positive case has been reported so far across J&K," Kansal said.
Urging Public to not panic, he assured that entire administrative machinery including health machinery has been further activated and is in a state of full alert and all facilities as required are being put in place.
Kansal said that all incoming passengers to J&K will have to undergo a mandatory screening.
"100 per cent self-declaration at the airports of Jammu and Srinagar will start from tomorrow to trace any such traveller having travel history to the infected countries. Further, check points for passengers travelling by road have been set up at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda (Zig) to identify individuals with travel history to these countries", he added.
Further, dedicated 24x7 Data Control Centres have been established at Srinagar and Jammu to receive the information of travellers coming from the affected countries and to receive information from the Government of India to further transmit the same to the districts for their tracing at the earliest, Kansal said, adding that all suspected cases are being managed through the defined protocols.
"We want to assure everybody that there is absolutely no cause of panic. All the required protocols and steps are being taken. Doctors, health specialists administrative officers of health departments are reaching out to everybody through mass media informing people at large of the various respiratory hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, hand hygiene steps that are needed to be taken. The department will continue to engage with everybody on these issues", Kansal maintained.
Responding to a question by the media person, Bhupinder Kumar Mission Director NHM informed that adequate number of facilities have been raised both in Jammu and Srinagar as well as district level including quarantine and isolation facilities, ICUs with dedicated ventilators have also been set up.
Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba also held a Video-Conference with Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam and other officials.
He asked the UT administration to review their preparedness on daily basis, identify gaps and strengthen hospital preparedness by having isolation and critical care facilities, linkages with VRDL network laboratories and adherence to infection prevention and control guidelines.
The government was also advised to coordinate with all major private and other hospitals so as to have isolation wards and all necessary support required at such hospitals to deal with suspected cases.
Earlier in the day, Chief Secretary Subrahmanyam convened a meeting with divisional administration Jammu and Kashmir to assess precautionary measures being initiated to prevent the spread of Corona virus.
He directed to put in place check points with deployment of team of doctors at railway stations, airports, bus stands and entry points of J&K (Lakhanpur) for screening of passengers for Corona virus. He emphasized the need to educate people about symptoms and precautionary measures regarding this virus. He asked the concerned to check whether any passenger is travelling here from Corona affected countries.
He directed that arrangements be made for ensuring that if any person shows symptoms of Corona virus during screening, then the victim should be kept in the hospital.