Tasaduq Hussain
Leh, May 11: The authorities in Ladakh Tuesday said that the COVID-19 positivity rate has started to decline in the region after the proportion of outsiders testing positive for the virus has reduced after proper measures were taken including the mandatory quarantine and lockdown.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Leh, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse said that the COVID-19 positive cases have started to decline after lockdown was imposed to prevent the spread.
“All those arriving from outside Ladakh are mandatorily quarantined and RT-PCR samples are collected for COVID-19 tests,” Suse said.
Suse said that at different locations sample collection cum screening points have been established including those coming from Srinagar and Manali are put under quarantine up to the time their results are out.
About the surge in cases due to the outside laborers and tourists as stated by the administration on April 15 last month, the District Magistrate said that the figure has reduced now and they have completed their quarantine period.
“The proportion of outsiders has reduced. It is the locals who are now testing positive for the virus,” he said.
On availability of oxygen, Suse said that “Our hospital has 1000 Liters Per Minute (LPM) oxygen capacity and is additionally being increased while two private plants are also available.”
Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Santosh Sukhadeve told KNO that to contain the spared of the virus various steps were taken including more active screening points at different locations and not allowing anyone without taking COVID-19 samples.
“Also RT-PCR of the entire population is being conducted while RAT for all those involved in essential services was also carried,” he said.
He said that surveillance teams have been constituted area-wise to keep a check on those under quarantine unless sample results are out.
Sukhadeve said that RT-PCR negative was made mandatory by the administration and all those arriving without the report are made to return while GREF, NHIDCL, and other laborers with contractors have been strictly directed to quarantine them away from the population.
Sukhadeve said earlier the ratio of outsiders was 95 percent and only 5 percent was the local population who tested positive, “however the figure has declined by half now.”
“We have two oxygen plants and one was made functional recently having the capacity of 1000 LPM. 250 oxygen concentrators are available. 1000 cylinders with 7000 liters capacity are also available and hospitals have been provided with refilling machines,” he said.
“Only 5-6 people are on oxygen support at District Hospital”, he informed, adding that the 500-600 LPM oxygen plant is scheduled to come up at DH Kargil besides one each plant at Drass and Zanskar.
About the availability of medicines, he said that presently stock of around three months is already available and it is being increased up to four months on directions of Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
Ladakh region has so far reported a total of 15,429 positive cases of which the highest of 12,749 was in Leh and 2680 in Kargil while 13825 have recovered from the virus maintaining the overall recovery rate at 90 percent.
A total of 157 people have died of the virus in the region of which 113 were from Leh and 44 from Kargil .The region has a total of 1447 active positive cases of which 1223 are in the Leh district and only 224 in Kargil.
