Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Jan 15: Amid increase in COVID-19 cases, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday in order to prevent the virus from spreading has announced weekend lockdown in the Union Territory.
In an order, the State Executive Committee has announced that there will be complete restrictions on non-essential movements during weekends in the entire J&K.
“Night curfew shall continue to remain in force in all districts from 9 pm to 6 am with complete restriction on non—essential movement,” reads the order.
The orders further reads that a maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor/outdoor gathering shall be strictly restricted to 25 while the Banquet Halls in all the Districts of J&K are permitted to allow gathering up to 25 vaccinated persons (with verifiable RT-PCR or RAT not older than 72 hours) or 25% of the authorised capacity (whichever is less), preferably in open spaces.
It added that Cinema halls, theaters, multiplexes, restaurants, clubs, gymnasiums and swimming pools are permitted to function at 25% of the authorised capacity with due precautions such as CAB and adherence to SOP.
“As regards the education institutions, all Colleges, Schools, Polytechnics, ITIs, Coaching Centres for Civil Services/Engineering/NEET etc. to adopt online medium of teaching. There shall be no in-person teaching. Educational institutions shall be permitted to direct attendance of vaccinated staff for administrative purposes only. The Head of the institution must ensure that guidelines related to social distancing and Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) are strictly followed,” the order reads.
The order added that night curfew shall continue to remain in force in all districts from 9 pm to 6 am with complete restriction on non-essential movement. “There shall also be complete restriction on non-essential movement during weekends in entire J&K.” “All Deputy Commissioners shall intensify testing and ensure full utilization of available RT-PCR and RAT capacities. There shall be no drop in testing levels. Chief Medical Officers of all districts shall submit a daily report regarding the utilisation of available RT-PCR capacities to the District Magistrates concerned. Besides, District Magistrates shall also go for capacity expansion of the RT-PCR testing as per the requirement.”
“The Deputy Commissioners shall also focus on the positivity rates of the Medical-Blocks under their jurisdictions. Intensified measures related to Covid management and restriction of activities shall be undertaken in these Blocks.”
It said that there shall be renewed focus on Panchayat level/Medical Block mapping of cases and effective micro-containment zones shall be constituted wherever number of Covid-19 Positive cases reaches 3 or above.
“The DCs shall keep active track of the positivity rates in their respective jurisdictions. Strict perimeter control (Micro-Containment Zone) shall be implemented for localities where Covid-19 Positive Cases number reaches 3 and above. This shall be done to ensure no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services.”
“The three- “T” protocol of testing, tracking and treating, besides vaccination, needs to strengthened in all Blocks. The proportion of RT-PCR tests in the total mix should be scaled up on best effort basis. All DDMAS and the Health & Medical Education Department must ensure that minimum 15 contacts of the Covid-19 Positive person are tracked in order to arrest transmission within the community.”
“All Districts of J&K shall intensify efforts to ensure timely administering of the Second Dose of the Covid-19 vaccination in accordance with the due date for the same. All Districts to ensure the completion of Overdue Second Dose of Covid Vaccinations within a week. Overdue figures should be brought down to minimal levels in All Districts.”
“Positive cases detected because of intensive testing need to be isolated/quarantined at the earliest and their contacts shall also be traced and similarly isolated/quarantined and tested if needed and immediate isolation and treatment of COVID-19 patients shall be ensured in treatment facilities/hospitals/homes.
