J&K declares epidemic

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 17

The J&K government today extended the J&K Epidemic Disease (Covid-19) Regulations, 2020, to both Kashmir and Jammu divisions to step up efforts to tackle coronavirus.

The regulations were extended to the entire J&K under the orders of Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu which define powers, duties and responsibilities to the surveillance personnel, duties and responsibilities of medical officers and practitioners, enforcement and offences.

On Monday, the Lieutenant Governor promulgated the J&K Epidemic Diseases (Covid-19) Regulations Act declaring coronavirus as an epidemic and assigning powers, duties and responsibilities to surveillance personnel, medical officers and practitioners. Any violation of Act has been made punishable and criminal offence.

The prevailing situation, however, has started hitting normal life across J&K. After closing down restaurants, food courts, roadside eateries, malls, gyms and saloons, the UT administration has now decided to stop public transport.

In an order, the district administration, Ramban, has banned the operation of public transport till March 31 .

The UT administration has already announced that all Leh and Kargil passengers would be quarantined in J&K, while the public entry in Civil Secretariat and offices of Heads of Departments in Jammu division ceased till March 31

Meanwhile, the administration said 2,615 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance and, so far, three cases have tested positive in J&K. Of them, 2,060 persons have been kept under home quarantine and 28 are in hospital quarantine. Persons who are under home surveillance stand at 297 while 230 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period.

“A total of 113 samples have been sent for testing, of which 105 tested as negative and three cases have tested positive so far while reports of five cases are awaited till March 17,” an official spokesperson said.

In view of the emerging situation, CEO, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Ramesh Kumar has appealed pilgrims to postpone their visit to the holy cave shrine till normalisation of the situation.

While reviewing all aspects related to yatra and the safety of pilgrims, the CEO said all pilgrims were required to pass through mandatory thermal image scanning at Katra before proceeding for yatra.

The Shrine Board has already curtailed Atka Aarti slots, closed Garbhjoon cave at Adhkuwari and restricted yatra in groups.