Amid rising COVID-19 cases, JK Govt frames new Medical strategy
Srinagar, April 14(KNS): As the J&K is witnessing spike in positive covid19 cases with every passing day, Government has framed a new medical strategy to arrest the trend of further transmission. The 19-point medical strategy prepared in consultation with the specialists of health department and guidance of GOI emphasis on four Ts- trace, test track and treat.
It has called for setting up of separate Covid centers for asymptotic positive cases, symptomatic positives needing primary medical care and for Covid patients requiring critical and intensive healthcare.
Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam after sharing the new strategy with his colleagues, “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 JK safe. Best wishes,” he wrote to them in a message.
Regarding the qualification for declaring any area Red Zone, it reads, “ Areas with a significant number of cases or where there is suspicion of cluster transmission, based on an assessment by DC & CMO, with the advice of the SP as well, will be declared as RED ZONEs.
According to KNS “The red zone will see a 100% lockdown and completely seals for any movement across its boundaries. This would require an intelligent demarcation of boundaries using roads, natural barriers, etc,” it added about the strategy to be followed in Red Zones.
“There would be a 100% survey and screening of all persons in the red zone. Surveillance procedure has been issued and will be reissued with improvements. The entire red zone will be under surveillance and the people will be contacted periodically for rechecking for symptoms,” it reads. “There would be intensive testing of all contacts (already being done) and of all those with symptoms. In addition, there would be random sampling testing. The survey results would be geo-mapped. The only movement across the red zone boundaries would be for supplies (medical, grocery, and vegetables), medical emergencies, fumigation/sanitation, and enforcement/survey personnel.”
The strategy also says that all entry and exit would be with red zone passes and proper fumigation of vehicles, safety of personnel and safety tunnels.
“Call centres would attend to the needs of Red Zone residents and arrangements would be needed for some deliveries into it.”
The medical strategy also calls for raising 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), & COVID Hospitals (level-3) for critical/ intensive care. Total capacity on Srinagar should be 5,000, Jammu ~ 4,000 and all districts roughly 1,000 each. 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 reads.
It also calls for constituting separate teams for contact tracing so that doctors can handle medical load.
According to the new medical strategy, there should be unambiguous ambulance/ shifting protocol.
It also calls for protection of medical personnel from ‘violence and cared for as they are the frontline.’
The Medical strategy also calls for withdrawing vehicles from other departments/ officials and allotting them for medical staff movement
It also calls for expediting preparation and distribution of masks to public and ensure they wear them in in public areas.
“Non-covid medical treatment – make some parallel arrangements for this in select locations particularly for dialysis and pregnancies,” it reads.
The Medical strategy reads that Health deptt will be issuing instructions on testing strategy and Priority to the groups who are Tabligi Jamaats or having foreign travel history.
“All ULBs should do fumigation/cleanliness all around. Offices to have safety tunnels, sanitizers, masks,” it added.
The Medical strategy also calls for promoting Ayush medicines for immunity enhancement besides volunteers be roped in for assistance as home quarantine becomes the practice and more welfare has to be delivered at the doorstep.
“Aarogya Setup to ensure highest possible coverage. Being integrated with the survey strategy. Overall strategy – Trace, test, track, treat,” it added(KNS).
