Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Apr 14: People who are in different quarantine centers in Sumbal area of north Kashmir Bandipora district raised alarm over the overcrowding of the centers and feared spread of the infection.
The administration, however, blames the inmates for breaching the social distancing protocol by gathering unnecessary in the facilities. “Sometimes they indulge in gossiping and gather unnecessarily. They should avoid all this and take appropriate preventive measures. They should understand why they are there,” Shahnwaz Bukhari, Nodal Officer for Sumbal told Excelsior.
While admitting that they lack better infrastructure in the area, he said: “There are around 8-people in one room and the distances are being maintained as per the requisite SOPs. We have given them the best available facilities,” he said.
The inmates said quarantining of the COVID 19 is meant to monitor the suspected cases for symptoms for two weeks, overcrowding in the quarantine centers might lead to infection spreading to healthy people as well. They raised questions regarding the manner people are being placed in these centers.
Inmates at the Government Higher Secondary School said over 30 suspected cases from the nearby Gunde Jahangir villages were brought into the facility and placed with negative persons. “Out of 57 persons that were tested on 8th April, 8-persons came positive. They were taken to different hospitals while the rest were kept in the center. Eight of the negative patients have been kept with suspected people in the first floor,” an inmate said. Not only this, he said, but they also share the same washroom which is outside the building thereby increasing their chances of catching the infection.
The inmates said that the social distancing is being compromised as there are limited washrooms. “Overcrowding takes place at the entry and exit points. We are nearly 10-12 in a single room. For the last one week four people tested positive from the facility. They used to mingle with us”, said another person said, adding they were forced to spend a night with a positive patient.
Another problem the inmates are facing is the unavialibity of masks, towels and hand washes. “I have completed 17 days here and received a single mask so far. Multiple people have to share the same towel and sanitizers are also missing,” he said.
Echoing him a person from another facility – Government Degree College Sumbal, said: “The rooms are not cleaned and multiple people have to use a single towel and soap. Masks are also limited,” an inmate said.
An official said there is a shortage of hand sanitizers and masks and they do not receive an adequate supply. He said to tackle the cross-infection they have suggested speedy testing. “It takes time for a patient to get tested. More time means more chances of contacting people,” he said, adding that a separate testing facility will come up at CHC Sumbal in the next two-three days to tackle the issue.
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