Nodal Officer, MO suspended; notice to CEO PDA
*Shopping malls, gyms, recreational clubs shut in Jammu
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 13: While Government of J&K Union Territory (UT) today informed that two cases have been tested positive in the UT and 159 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period, District Magistrate Jammu ordered closure of all shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools and recreational clubs in district Jammu till March 31 as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus.
According to a Government spokesperson, two cases have been tested positive so far in the UT while 159 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period. “1743 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance where as 1485 persons are under home quarantine. Persons who are in hospital quarantine stand at 18 while 81 persons are under home surveillance,” he added.
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He further informed that 85 samples have been sent for testing, of which 77 tested as negative and only two cases have tested positive, so far while as reports of six cases are awaited.
All travellers having travel history to Coronavirus affected countries are advised to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, the spokesperson said and advised the home quarantined persons to stay in well-ventilated single-room preferably with an attached/separate toilet. He further advised them to stay away from elderly people, pregnant women, children and persons with co-morbidities within the household.
“Home quarantined persons should also restrict his/her movement within the house and under no circumstances attend any social/religious gatherings like weddings and condolences,” he said and urged all social, religious and political organizations to avoid large gatherings.
The spokesperson said that there is no need to panic. He also advised the public to maintain social distancing, avoid un-necessary travel and use of public transport, and also take basic precautions including personal hygiene, frequent hand washing with soap and observing coughing and sneezing etiquettes. He appealed people with fever, cough and difficulty in breathing to seek medical care at the earliest.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of novel Coronavirus, District Administration Jammu has ordered closure of all shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools, recreational clubs in district Jammu with immediate effect till March 31.
“It is hereby ordered that all shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools and recreational clubs of Jammu district shall remain closed with immediate effect till March 31,” said an order issued today by District Magistrate (DM) Jammu, Sushma Chauhan. Any violation of this order shall invite action under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the order said.
“The virus has a pattern of transmission at a rapid rate in case prescribed preventive protocols like avoiding mass gatherings are not strictly followed,” the DM said, adding, large gatherings in malls, gyms, swimming pools, recreational clubs may cause the spread of COVID-19 from infected to non-infected.
A Defence spokesperson said that in view of novel coronavirus, all recruitment rallies of Army in J&K and Ladakh UTs and other parts of the country have been postponed by one month while Army personnel have been asked to restrict to essential duties only and do maximum utilization of video conference facilities.
Earlier in the morning, Government suspended Dr Shafqat Khan, Nodal Officer for Coronavirus Efforts in Jammu and Kashmir. “Pending enquiry into his conduct, Dr Shafqat Khan, Nodal Officer for Coronavirus Efforts in J&K, Health and Medical Education Department, is hereby placed under suspension, with immediate effect in terms of Rule 31 of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956,” said an order issued by Additional Secretary to the J&K Government.
The order added that during the period of suspension, the officer shall remain attached with the office of Deputy Commissioner, Kathua/office of the Chief Medical Officer, Kathua.
Meanwhile, DC Poonch Rahul Yadav today suspended Medical Officer, District Hospital, Poonch, Dr Saleem Bhatti with immediate effect for refusing to do surveillance duty regarding Coronavirus and leaving his station without prior permission.
“In view of spread of COVID-19 virus, surveillance teams were constituted in District Poonch to follow up home quarantine case of Indian nationals returning from abroad and as per Tehsildar Haveli, Dr Saleem Bhatti, MO, District Hospital Poonch who was deputed in surveillance team for monitoring and follow up of home quarantine people in Niabat Poonch, refused to do surveillance duty. Further enquiry from CMO Poonch revealed that Dr Bhatti left his place of posting and went to Surankote without prior permission,” the order of DC Poonch said.
“Medical professional across the globe have gone beyond call of duty to contain the spread of COVID-19 and J&K is no exception. However, such lackadaisical attitude on part of one single doctor can make efforts of all other health professionals futile. Keeping in view of this, Dr Bhatti is placed under suspension with immediate effect,” the order said.
The order further directed Medical Superintendent, District Hospital, Poonch to initiate disciplinary action against Dr Bhatti under CSC Rules and submit action taken report to DC office at the earliest. “During suspension period, he will remain attached with District Hospital Poonch at the disposal of Medical Superintendent of the Hospital for further duty,” the order stated.
In Kashmir, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura today cancelled all the leaves granted in the favour of its employees in order to ensure uninterrupted medical services to the public.
“In view of the spread of COVID-19, which has been declared as a worldwide pandemic, all the leaves (except leaves on extra-ordinary grounds) of employees of SKIMS and SKIMS Medical College are hereby cancelled with immediate effect,” the order issued by the Director SKIMS, A G Ahangar said.
“The staff already on sanctioned leave is directed to resume duties immediately in order to provide uninterrupted medical services to the public,” it added. The order further said that no fresh case of earned/casual leave shall be entertained.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan today sought explanation from Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pahalgam Development Authority on an official function at famous health resort where huge number of people had turned up despite ban on large gathering amid Coronavirus scare.
On Thursday, Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) in collaboration with Lidder Forest Division Range Pahalgam organized a Plantation Drive Cum Awareness Programme on Plantation in Pahalgam. The officials and students from various schools participated in it despite ban on gatherings.
The officials who attended the function included SDM Pahalgam Syed Faheem, ADDC Anantnag Khawaja Nazir Ahmad, CEO Pahalgam Dr. Nasir Ahmad Lone, ADC Anantnag Ghulam Hassan Sheikh, ACR Anantnag Syed Yasir Kubravi, CEO Anantnag, SDPO Pahalgam and Range Officer, Haji Mohd Altaf.
The function took place despite Government order on March 11 urging people to avoid unnecessary travel, use of public transport and gatherings.
Khan has asked explain his position for violating Government directions.
In the UT of Ladakh, where so far three cases have been reported from a single village—Chushot Gongma, the administration has appealed for public cooperation in curbing the COVID 19. They advised people to rush to hospital if any symptom appears and appealed the private clinics in Leh and Kargil districts to immediately refer COVID-19 suspects to Hospital.
UT Ladakh Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education Rigzin Sampheal in a media briefing today said 636 passengers were screened on Thursday including 11 Iran returnees, who have been kept under observation at Kargil. “So far we have sent 58 samples for testing out of which, 3 were found positive, 29 reported negative and reports of 26 are awaited.
The three positive patients have been kept in isolation under strict vigilance of the medical experts, he said, adding, 3000 residents of Chushot Gongma village have been kept under quarantine and people are extending their cooperation to the administration by following the guidelines set by administration to control the novel coronavirus.
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