Amidst a spike in COVID-19 cases, the government has asked all the concerned departments to seek help from public influencers including religious leaders, youth icons, public representatives in order to encourage people to take the vaccination.
In a review meeting regarding the emerging COVID-19 situation in Kashmir, Divisional Commissioner P K Pole stressed upon all the districts to have an effective and meaningful IEC campaign regarding COVID-19 vaccination so that desired outcome is achieved in breaking the chain of Covid-19 infection.
Pole directed all the respective district commissioners, director tourism, director general health and family welfare, Kashmir and all chief medical officers to seek help from public figures including socio-religious leaders, youth icons, celebrities, public representatives, to communicate the message, besides adopting practices having a local impact.
Pole stressed upon all the districts to involve the Waqaf Board members and Imams of Masjids to deal with COVID vaccine hesitancy, especially during the month of Ramadan.
The Divisional Commissioner stressed upon all the district heads to vaccinate people engaged in tourism activities including taxi drivers, cab drivers, hoteliers, waiters, tourist guides.
Pole directed all the districts to use the opportunity of block diwas to vaccinate people against COVID-19.
He also directed that all manufacturers/ suppliers of medical oxygen, to reserve 50 per cent of their capacity so as to meet the demand of Government Health Care Institutions on priority.
The Divisional Commissioner expressed his displeasure over the fact that the majority of active positive cases are outside containment zones.
He directed all the districts to notify new micro containment zones and also directed to ensure 100 per cent testing of all eligible populations within the micro containment zones within three days of notification besides putting in place effective surveillance measures and target testing.
Pole also directed districts to enhance the COVID-19 testing and adhere to testing targets as already communicated by the divisional COVID control room, besides complying with the fundamental principle of 1500 tests per million population per day with 50 per cent of total tests through RT-PCR.
“Instructions were also passed to test all vulnerable sections of society, particularly pregnant ladies whose EDD falls in line with immediate hospital admissions,” the minutes of the meeting read.
“Directions were also passed that all the districts shall submit a report regarding the details of COVID-19 testing teams and share accordingly with the divisional COVID control room,” it said.
‘Follow protocol’
Dr Naveed Nazir Shah, superintendent of Srinagar’s chest disease hospital, has urged people to take precautions to check the Covid spread
Prevention is the best way to fight the virus, he added
