Coronavirus in Jammu: Over 1000 under observation, Helpline Numbers - watsupptoday.com
Coronavirus in Jammu: Over 1000 under observation, Helpline Numbers
Posted 10 Mar 2020 05:54 PM

Watsupptoday

Coronavirus Helpline +91-0191-2549676 (UT level Cell for J&K)
+91-0191-2520982 (For Jammu Division)
+91-0194-2440283 (For Kashmir Division)


J&K government has said to date 669 people in list of suspected cases of coronavirus have been put under observation, with another 460 in-home quarantine.
Eight cases are in hospital quarantine, 55 in-home observation, while 146 completed their 28 days surveillance period, the government said.

In the Union Territory of J&K, 55 samples have been sent for testing, of which 26 were negative, one tested positive, and 28 reports are awaited. The government has strengthened surveillance and control measures against the disease.


Lack Of Preparation by the Government

Universal self-declaration has been made mandatory w.e.f. March 4 at Jammu and Srinagar airports. Screening of travelers started at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda toll posts as well as Jammu, Katra and Udhampur Railway stations, where Health Help Desks have been set up. Teams of doctors and paramedical staff are deployed, who are screening passengers through non-contact thermal scanners.

Despite Jammu and Kashmir on high alert to prevent the spread of deadly Covid-19 in the Union Territory (UT), on the ground, there is no visible presence of medical teams at major entry points to the region. The J&K administration has issued the first advisory on February 2 to keep a track of virus spread and prepare itself to deal with any outbreak.

While at airport, passengers have to give self-declaration of their travel history, at railway station and bus stand thousands of people, including Mata Vaishno Devi-bound pilgrims coming from across the country, are entering J&K without any screening, exposing claims of the administration that special teams have been constituted and will be placed at important places for help.

Sources in the Health Department said without a required supply of thermometer guns, a device that measures body temperature without making contact with a person’s skin, hazmat suit for health personnel and thermal scanners, UT seems to be ill-prepared to detect individual travelers. There is also a lack of proper quarantine facilities at hospitals.

Efforts at State Level

Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo said, “We have constituted medical teams, but it is not possible to screen all passengers and individuals. We have deployed medical teams at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda to ensure that the travel history of passengers is ascertained”.

An employee of the Health Department said even the staff who had been asked to prepare for deployment were afraid in the absence of a lack of equipment. “At airports, passengers have to give self-declaration of their travel, but what about those coming from rail and bus stand. Without proper equipment, it will be difficult to screen people,” said an official.

Leave a comment: (Your email will not be published)