- Lays emphasis on 4 Ts — trace, test, track, treat
NL CORRESPONDENT
Jammu Tawi, Apr 13: As the coronavirus cases are on the rise in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has come up with a medical strategy to deal with the contagion.
The nineteen-point medical strategy prepared in consultation with the specialists of health department emphasises on four Ts — trace, test, track and treat.
It calls for setting up of separate Covid centres for asymptomatic positive cases, symptomatic positives needing primary medical care, and for Covid patients requiring critical and intensive healthcare.
“You are doing most of this already. I compliment your hard work. But we are in for a long haul. Better to get systems in place now so that we are ready. Let us keep J-K safe. Best wishes,” reads the message from Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam to top officers involved in the combat against coronavirus.
To be implemented in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir, the medical strategy lays emphasis on containing the spread of the virus, safety of healthcare workers and treatment of the infected patients.
It calls for improving capacities for isolation, quarantine, and monitoring home quarantine.
“Three levels of Covid centres be set up—Covid Wellness Centres (level-1) for asymptomatic positive cases, Covid Health Centres for symptomatic positives needing slight medical care (level-2), and Covid Hospitals (level-3) for critical and intensive care,” reads the medical strategy.
Union Territory (UT) of J&K reported 25 new Covid cases on Monday, taking the total number of cases to 270, with 250 active cases. Sixteen patients have recovered while four died due to the dreaded virus.
“25 new cases of COVID-19 reported in J&K. All from Kashmir. Total now at 270,” government spokesman Rohit Kansal tweeted.
On Sunday, 21 cases tested positive, including 17 in Kashmir Valley and four in Jammu province including a doctor and one Tablighi contact who interacted with attendees of Nizammudin congregation.
Public health experts were complaining that government was not involving them in the combat against COVID-19, which according to them would create healthcare crisis in J&K.
Nearly 30 Tablighi Jamaat (TJ) workers and their 40 contacts have tested positive for the virus in J&K.
“All contacts, high value cases (TJ, foreign travel) should be tested on priority in the next few days. Till then, they are to be quarantined,” it said.
“Areas with a significant number of cases or where there is suspicion of cluster transmission, based on assessment by Deputy Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer, with the advice of the Superintendent of Police as well, would be declared as red zones,” reads the medical strategy.
The red zone would see a “100 per cent lockdown and will be completely sealed for any movement across its boundaries” demarcated using roads and natural barriers.
“There would be a 100 per cent survey and screening of all persons in the red zone. Also, intensive testing of all contacts (already being done) and of all those with symptoms. In addition, there would be random sampling testing,” reads the strategy.
The strategy calls for constitution of separate teams for contact tracing so that doctors can handle the medical load.
“As load increases, doctors will not have time to do contact tracing. Constitute separate teams for contact tracing so that doctors can handle medical load,” it said.
The strategy calls for protection of healthcare workers from violence and even allotment of vehicles for movement of medical staff.
“Medical personnel to be protected from violence and cared for. They are the frontline. Allot vehicles to them by withdrawing from others if necessary. Particularly for red zones,” it said.
For non-Covid medical treatment with special emphasis on dialysis and pregnancies, the medical strategy calls for “some parallel arrangements in select locations”.
Also, health authorities have been asked to promote AYUSH medicines for immunity enhancement.
“Involvement of volunteers for assistance as home quarantine becomes the practice and more welfare has to be delivered at doorstep,” it said.
- Red, orange, green zones may come up during Lockdown 2.0
New Delhi, Apr 13
The Centre is likely to categorise the country into red, orange and green zones depending on the number of Covid-19 cases during the proposed extended period of lockdown and might allow limited services to function in the safe zones.
Officials privy to the discussions during the four-hour-long conference with chief ministers, convened by PM Narendra Modi, said that schools and colleges would remain shut but some small scale industries and liquor shops may be allowed to function.
There was near unanimity in extending the ongoing 21-day lockdown, which is till April 30, and the central government is likely to categorise the country into three zones — red, orange and green — depending on the number of COVID-19 cases, an official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
There will be no activity in the red zones — the districts where sizeable number of cases were detected or areas which were declared hotspots.
In the orange zones — where only a few cases were found in the past with no increase in the number of positive cases — minimum activities like opening of limited public transport, harvesting of farm products will be allowed.
Green zones will be in the districts where there is no COVID-19 case.
The chief ministers were against large scale inter-state movement of people, sources said.
Liquor shops are likely to be allowed to open as many chief ministers strongly pitched for it arguing that it is a major revenue generating way for the states, the sources said, adding restaurants and malls won't open.
However, some MSME industries falling under the green zone — in the districts where there is no COVID-19 case — will be allowed to function with in-house lodging facilities for employees with proper maintenance of social distance.
Agricultural activities are also set to be allowed in green and orange zones with strict maintenance of social distance.
Limited domestic air and train services may be allowed in select sectors with 30 per cent or less passengers while limited metro services may also be started in cities like Delhi with 30 per cent passengers.
Currently, in major cities like Delhi, 30 per cent of DTC and cluster bus services are operational for those working in essential services.
The city public transport services will be enhanced from minimum to optimal, another sources said.
The chief ministers are strongly opposed to any mass scale movements of people between states saying they don't have the capacity to put thousands of people in quarantine together, the sources said.
After the marathon meeting, the prime minister is believed to have directed top officials to work out on the guidelines — on the restrictions and exemptions — which may be announced either on Sunday or Monday.
