Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 30: Cabinet Secretary, Rajesh Gauba today held video-conference with Chief Secretaries and Health Secretaries of States/UTs to review their preparedness to deal with the novel coronavirus amid mounting global concern over increasing number of cases in China.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Health Secretary, Foreign Secretary and other senior functionaries of Government of India.
Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo along with concerned officers of Health Department attended the meeting on behalf of Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
Cabinet Secretary while interacting with Chief Secretaries/ Health Secretaries of the States/UTs sought details from them with regard to the level of preparedness they have made for prevention and management of the disease.
The States/UTs have been asked to follow the guidelines issued by Union Health Ministry including surveillance and contact tracing, surveillance at entry points, sample collection, packaging and transport, clinical management protocol and infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities.
Cabinet Secretary asked for setting up of control rooms, appointing a nodal officer and giving due publicity to the helpline number as already advised by the Health Ministry.
The States/UTs have been asked 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 Health Secretaries were advised to make ready isolation wards at the major hospitals with all necessary support required for its operations.
Meanwhile, the State Level / Divisional Level/District Level control rooms along with Nodal Officers have been made functional in Jammu and Kashmir and medical teams have been deployed at both the airports in Jammu and Srinagar along with other logistical arrangements at the health care facilities.
Advisories have been issued to persons who have travel history to China or South Asia to report to the nearest health care facility in case of any symptoms. Isolation facilities have been identified in Divisional as well as the District Level and RRTs (Rapid Response Teams) have been nominated to face any eventuality. Coordinated efforts has been formulated between the various Central Agencies and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
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