After 3 more cases, total rises to 6 in Ladakh
SMVDSB urges pilgrims to postpone visit
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 17: Three more persons have been tested positive for Coronavirus in Ladakh, taking the total number of such cases in the Union Territory to six, consequent upon which prohibitory orders have been imposed in the entire Kargil district as a preventive measure while in a drastic measure, public transport was today suspended in Ramban and Udhampur districts of J&K UT.
Srinagar authorities also issued a list of measures, including closure of educational institutes, hotels, gardens, food courts and saloons, under Disaster Management Act to contain the spread of Coronavirus in Srinagar while as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has appealed to the pilgrims to postpone their visit to the holy shrine.
Besides, taking precautions against Coronavirus, J&K Police Headquarters has directed heads of all police training schools across the UT to relieve and direct all police trainees to report to their parent units while authorities have closed hotels and guest houses falling in the jurisdiction of Municipal Committee Doda and Bhaderwah till March 31.
Moreover, J&K Government has decided to introduce process of stamping of COVID-19 suspects for quarantine and has directed Director Health Jammu as well as Kashmir, besides heads of Government Medical Colleges and SKIMS Soura to ensure that all arrangements are immediately made to ensure that the persons recommended for quarantine be stamped with indelible ink stamp.
Ladakh’s Commissioner Secretary (Health) Rigzin Samphel today said that the three patients – two from Leh and one from Kargil — tested positive yesterday but they are in stable condition and are undergoing treatment in specially set up isolation wards.
With three more persons testing positive for coronavirus, he said, the confirmed cases of corona-affliction in the UT have now risen to six, including one medical staff. “The test report of about 50 patients is still awaited and expected in the next couple of days,” he added.
Samphel said over 22000 people have been screened at hospitals and specially set up checkpoints including the main airport in Ladakh and over 130 samples collected and sent outside the UT for testing. He added that 208 people are in home quarantine in Leh and Kargil districts, while 150 of them have completed the essential mandatory quarantine period of two weeks but were advised to avoid going out to crowded areas as a precautionary measure.
As many as 21 suspected cases have been quarantined in health facilities in Kargil and another nine in Leh district, he said. As part of efforts to check the spread of the pandemic, he said the district administration in Kargil has issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC, banning the assembly of five or more persons.
“A similar order is to be issued in Leh district in coming days,” he said. In his order issued Tuesday morning, District Magistrate Kargil Baseer ul Haq said the restrictions under prohibitory orders have come into force with immediate effect and will remain in force in the entire district for one month. Any violation of the order by any person shall invite action under IPC, Haq said, highlighting various measures taken to check the spread of the disease.
The DC Kargil also ordered cancellation of leave of Government employees. “Any kind of leave sanctioned to the Government Officers/Officials except leave sanctioned on Medical Grounds, Child Care Leave or Leave for Study Purposes shall stand cancelled with immediate effect,” the order read.
It further stated that all the concerned Officers/Officials shall remain stationed at their respective headquarters. Similarly the officers/officials of Sankoo Sub Division on similar leave have also been directed to report to SDM Sankoo immediately. The order read that strict action shall be taken against the defaulters.
The authorities in Kargil also ordered closure of District Library as well as Tehsil and Border block libraries of the district for visitors till March 31. However, the officials of the libraries have been directed to remain stationed in their respective offices.
Meanwhile, Leh District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya ordered immediate closure of all gymnasiums and recreational clubs in the district till March 31. “It is felt that large gatherings in gyms, recreational clubs and other such places may cause spread of COVID-19. All gyms and recreational clubs of Leh district shall remain closed with immediate effect,” Vaishya said in his order.
Though no fresh case of COVID-19 was reported today in the UT of J&K but as a precautionary measure, J&K Police Headquarters has directed heads of all police training schools across the UT to relieve and direct all police trainees to report to their parent units.
“Please relieve and direct all the trainees presently undergoing different courses in SKPA Udhampur and in your respective Training Institutes to report to their parent units till further orders,” Police Headquarters said in a communiqué to Director SKPA Udhampur, Principal SPS PTS Kathua, PTS Manigam, STC Sheeri/Talwara, CTC Lethpora and Principal PTTI Vijaypur, adding, matter may be treated as most urgent.
Although no reason was stated in the communiqué but, as per the sources, decision was taken to discourage assembly of trainees in view of Coronavirus and also for their probable deployment to enforce orders issued by the authorities to check spread of COVID-19 virus.
Meanwhile, in a drastic precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus, Ramban district authorities today ordered suspension of public transport in the hilly district and closure of hotels and restaurants along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway till March 31 though no one found corona-positive in the district and no one put under isolation either in the district. However, isolation facility has been set up in the district.
The Ramban District Magistrate Nazim Zia Khan issued the order invoking provisions of the National Disaster Management Act. The traffic on the national highway, connecting Jammu and rest of the country from the Valley and beyond, however, was exempted from the suspension order.
With the suspension of public transport in the entire district, Ramban has become the first district in the entire Union Territory of J&K to resort to such a measure. The suspension of the public transport has not been reported from elsewhere either in the country, though the authorities have been advising people to avoid unnecessary travels.
“We felt the need to shut markets (along the highway) during the day time and after the dusk so that commuters do not stop enroute to their destination. It is a sort of preventive measure against coronavirus,” he said.
The District Magistrate also ordered closure of all markets from 10 am to 5 pm and 7 pm to 7 am in the district till March 31, giving a three-hour window in the morning and two hours in the evening for the district natives to buy their essentials.
The order said although all the hotels and restaurants have been closed in district Ramban, in case of any extreme urgency, the guests and the hotel owners have to get permission from the concerned station house officers and it shall be mandatory for the guest to fill up a self-declaration form which shall be provided by the hotel owner.
Following the suite, Udhampur authorities also decided to suspend public transport across the district from tomorrow. “To further strengthen ‘Social Distancing’, public transport including buses, mini-buses, tempos, matadors, innovas etc shall be suspended in #Udhampur from tomorrow across the district. ARTO, SDMs, Tehsildars, SHOs to implement the order. Inconvenience regretted,” District Magistrate Udhampur, Dr Piyush Singla, posted on his twitter handler tonight.
Issuing orders under National Disaster management Act, District Magistrate Reasi, Indu Kanwal Chib today ordered closure of massage centers/spa/sauna, shopping malls/bars and cinema halls, restaurants, dhabas, food courts, food stalls, road side eatries etc besides, non-operation of langers/bhandaras (except those situated in Municipal limits of Katra and enroute Mata Vaishno Devi track) till March 31.
She further banned social, religious or ritualistic events at any public place/community involving a gathering of more than 4 people, besides ban of conferences, events, rallies, dharnas, protests across district. Marriage ceremonies should also restrict to small gatherings, the order of DM read.
In view of the emerging situation due to Coronovirus, Ramesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board today reviewed all aspects related to Yatra and the safety of pilgrims. Considering the spread of Coronovirus, the CEO appealed pilgrims to postpone their visit to the holy cave Shrine till normalization of the situation.
“All the pilgrims visiting the Holy Cave Shrine have to fill Self Reporting Form available at Yatra Registration Counters, Accommodations, Helipad Terminal of Shrine. Further, they are required to pass through mandatory Thermal Image Scanning at Katra before proceeding for Yatra,” the CEO added.
He said the Shrine Board has also taken several other preventive measures for ensuring safety of the pilgrims. These include curtailing of Atka Aarti slots, closing of Garbhjoon Cave at Adhkuwari, restricting Yatra in groups etc.
The authorities in Srinagar district also issued today a list of measures, including closure of educational institutes, hotels, gardens, food courts and saloons, under Disaster Management Act to contain the spread of Coronavirus in Srinagar.
District Magistrate Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary issued a three-page order listing various dos and don’ts for people for curbing the COVID-19 spread in the city and the rest of the Valley.
While all educational institutions in the city have been closed till further orders, the district administration on Tuesday directed the head of the departments and institutions to devise and submit proposals for televised classes for students by 20 March. The district administration will support and finance these televised classes, the order said.
The administration has also directed shutdown of all hostels, canteens, parks, gardens, restaurants and roadside eateries in the city till further orders. The home delivery of food has also been banned.
According to the order, conferences, workshops, rallies and sit-in protests will not be allowed in the city till March 31 while the management of community halls have been directed not to take any booking for any function, be it religious or social.
The gyms, saloons, spas and clubs are also closed till further orders. The administration has directed all tour operators and travel agents to declare details of all bookings made by them for passengers undertaking international and domestic air travel.
Overloading of passengers in public transport vehicles too has been banned and the administration has directed the traffic police to seize any vehicle found overloaded.
Besides reiterating earlier directions about self-declaration and home- quarantine for those with travel history to corona-hit countries, the administration said it will undertake GIS mapping of all cases including suspects, those under surveillance, quarantined and isolated.
This will also include those tested for coronavirus infliction irrespective of the outcome of the test and the data shall be maintained at the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
The DM Srinagar told Excelsior that the foreign tourists will not be allowed to enter in Kashmir due to coronavirus. The decision has been taken as precautionary measure. “Entry of all foreign tourists in Kashmir has been banned as a precautionary measure,” he asserted.
As a precautionary measure, District Magistrate Doda Dr Sagar Dofiode today ordered closure of all hotels and guest houses falling within the jurisdiction of Municipal Committee Doda and Bhaderwah Development Authority with immediate effect up to March 31 where as Kathua administration has restricted operation of wine shops in the district from 10 AM to 5 PM and asked the wine shop owners to ensure that no more than two persons stand in front of their shops at any point of time.
Meanwhile, Municipal Council Baramulla ordered closure of places of gathering in the district with immediate effect. “…it is hereby ordered that the public places like restaurants, fast food stalls, dhabas, gym centres, coaching centres, public parks, computer institutes etc are closed in Baramulla town till further orders,” the order stated.
The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hazratbal also closed its campus today and asked the students to leave for their respective native places. “Yesterday, we called in a meeting with the Head of the Departments, Deans and other senior functionaries of the NIT and during that it was decided that in the view of the advisories issued by the Government, our students will also leave the campus till 31st March. Supplementary exams that are going on shall continue as such,” said Director NIT, Rakesh Sehgal
As a precautionary measure, the Kashmir Press Club (KPC) was closed today till March 31. “We at the KPC have also closed the premises till that time. We will keep you informed about all the decisions that are taken in the interest of the members and the fraternity”, KPC statement.
Meanwhile, a J&K Government spokesperson said that 2615 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance and, so far, three cases have tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Whereas, 2060 persons have been kept under home quarantine and 28 are in hospital quarantine, persons who are under home surveillance stand at 297 and 230 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period,” he added.
He further informed that 113 samples have been sent for testing, out of which 105 tested as negative and three cases have tested positive, so far, while as reports of five cases are still awaited.
The spokesman also revealed that 4222 travellers from different parts of country were screened today at Srinagar airport. There was no international traveler and among those screened were 100 locals.
At Lower Munda 546 vehicles and 2700 travellers were screened today. “So far, a total number of 47927 persons have been screened at Srinagar airport while as 3303 vehicles and 7347 travellers have been screened so far at Lower Munda since screening process started”, he added.
Meanwhile, Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine, J&K has cancelled all kinds of leaves (except maternity leave) in favour of its medical/para-medical/ministerial staff. “The staff (Gazetted/Non-gazetted) already on sanctioned leave is hereby directed to resume their duties immediately in order to provide un-interrupted services to the public,” the order of Director ISM Dr Mohan Singh read. It further stated that no fresh leave cases shall be entertained by Deputy Directors/ADMOs/Medical Superintendents/Nodal officers of Jammu/Kashmir divisions till further orders.
Entry of foreign tourists banned
The Jammu & Kashmir Government has banned entry of foreign tourists in the entire UT as a precautionary measure in view of the coronavirus outbreak around the world.
Advisor to the Lt Governor Baseer Ahmad Khan has issued necessary orders in this regard.
Secretary Tourism, Directors of Tourism, Kashmir and Jammu and all the DCs have been asked to ensure implementation of the order with immediate effect.
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