Leh, March 31: Keeping in view the increase in the covid-19 cases of tourists and migrant labourers and the increase in the Covid-19 cases, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Chairman, Shrikant Suse, today convened a meeting o to review the Covid-19 surveillance mechanism and upcoming vaccination drive in Leh district.

DDMA Chairman reviewed the action taken by the officers on the Covid-19 containment measures and compliance of Covid appropriate behaviour (CAB), strict implementation of 100 per cent usage of masks and maintenance of social distancing in all public places and impose a Rs 500 fine on persons found without mask/spitting in public places, and Rs 800 from repeat offenders.

It was informed during the meeting of the formation of 5 micro-containment zones in the district, including one in the Khaltse sub-division and four in Leh town. Chairman, DDMA directed district police for strict perimeter control of the areas and CMO, Leh for aggressive contact tracing and testing as per guidelines issued recently by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI.

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Various indicators, including geographical mapping of cases, case positivity rate, doubling rate, the composition of RAT and RT PCR in the sampling, were also discussed during the meeting.

DDMA Chairman directed CMO Leh to ensure that RT PCR tests are more than 70% of total sampling.

It was also informed in the meeting that action/FIR under relevant acts, including Disaster Management Act, Epidemic Diseases Act and IPC, have been initiated against hoteliers, house owners, and contractors found violating the Covid-19 guidelines.

He also exhorted the officials for strengthening the control room at the District Magistrate office for better coordination between different departments in the surveillance of Covid-19 cases.

CMO Leh also informed that vaccination of all above 45-60 years would be carried out from 1st April 2021. Chairman, DDMA directed CMO to increase the number of session sites so that all eligible beneficiaries will be covered in the shortest possible time and cover teachers above 45 years on priority.

According to the guidelines issued by the UT Administration of Ladakh on 30th March 2021, all passengers arriving in Ladakh must have a negative RTPCR report not older than 96 hours. Those without a Covid-19 report would have to undergo seven days of mandatory quarantine and Covid-19 testing.

Additional Superintendent of Police, Leh, Chief Medical Officer, Leh, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Leh; Assistant Director, information/Assistant  Labour Commissioner, Leh; Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD), Leh and District Social Welfare Officer participated in the meeting.