Set up isolation facilities at panchayat level: J&K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta

Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 12

In the wake of rising Covid-19 cases, Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Wednesday directed the authorities to immediately activate emergency control rooms and re-activate the panchayat-level isolation facilities to contain the rural spread of the disease.

The Chief Secretary directed ramping up of testing facilities in J&K to conduct over 2 lakh daily tests in the coming days while maintaining the contact tracing ratio at 1:15.

Mehta was chairing the meeting of the Covid task force on Wednesday in which officials from different departments were present.

The Chief Secretary has also asked the Health and Medical Education Department to prioritise administering booster doses in vulnerable populations, besides, expediting vaccination in the 15-17 age group and replenishing the stock of medicines.

The task force reviewed the public health response and various mitigation measures being put in place for effective containment and mitigation of the infection in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Secretary also directed the authorities to ensure enforcement of Covid-appropriate behaviour and other protocols towards ensuring the highest caution and preparedness and lowest fatality.

1,695 new Covid cases in J&K

Jammu: The UT on Wednesday reported 1,695 Covid cases — 812 from Jammu and 883 from the Kashmir division. Also, one death was reported from the Jammu division. As many as 262 more patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals, including 140 from Jammu and 122 from Kashmir. OC