`Health staff not conducting repeat RtPcr testing of international travellers on 8th day of home quarantine in Kashmir’
DC Kathua emphasises on random testing of travellers at Lakhanpur
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, DECEMBER 23: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on Thursday took a serious note of the failure of ongoing repeat RtPcr testing on 8th day of International travelers who were put on home quarantine in their respective districts in the Valley.
It was observed that the laid guidelines/instructions for conducting repeat RtPcr testing on 8th day of arrival of International travelers are not being followed strictly. As such it was emphasised upon all the Chief Medical Officers to ensure that these repeat testing of all the international travelers is carried on 8th day of arrival positively.
Any laxity in this regard shall be viewed seriously and the concerned Chief Medical officer shall be personally responsible for any delays in this matter, he said.
Meanwhile, in Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rahul Yadav reviewed the preparedness of Health and other Departments in view of possible threat of Omicron spread.
At the outset, the DC laid emphasis on testing of travelers on a random basis at Lakhanpur entry point so as to keep a check on infected persons. He directed health authorities to scale up testing by deputing an adequate number of teams across the district, especially at Lakhanpur for early detection of any infected person.
The DC also called for setting up a Joint Control Room by roping in the officials of Police, Health and District Administration to follow proper mechanism of tracing, tracking and treating in coordinated manner.
Stressing on strict adherence to Covid Appropriate Behavior, the DC asked enforcement agencies including Police and Executive Magistrates to conduct random checking in markets and public places on regular intervals and book erring people.
To ensure proper testing in government offices and industrial units, the DC passed directions to Medical Superintendent, Associated Hospitals, and GMC Kathua to conduct testing once in a month as a measure to curb the Covid spread.
Medical Superintendent informed the meeting that there are 90 dedicated beds for Covid patients with sufficient provision of oxygen besides buffer stock of oxygen cylinder and concentrator to meet any emergency.
