KARGIL MARCH 25, 2021: In order to put in place adequate administrative and medical measures to control the contain the spread of COVID-19 virus in the district , Deputy Commissioner and CEO, LAHDC, Kargil Santosh Sukhadeve today convened a meeting of the concerned officers here today.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kargil Tsering Motup, Additional SP Iftikhar Talib Choudhary, SDMs, Chief Medical Officer, Teshildars, officers of Health, Education, Labor, PWD, Information besides other concerned officers attended the meeting.

During the course of the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner while expressing concern over the surge of COVID-19 cases in some states of the country and keeping in view the expected influx of laborers, travelers and locals to the district on the opening of the Zojila Pass in near future stressed the need to put in place all required measures for necessary screening, testing, quarantine and isolation.

The DC stated that at present there only 4 active positive cases of COVID-19 in the district but we should not remain complacent with the notion that the virus has vanished as its threat still looms large, adding he stressed the officers present to reactivate functionaries for the containment of Coronavirus by intensifying screening at all the entry points besides taking all other necessary measures.

While reviewing the status of the COVID-19 registration, screening and testing points, COVID Care, institutional quarantine and isolation Centres, functioning of the COVID surveillance teams in the district and other related aspects, the DC exhorted upon the officers concerned to expedite all preparations in a timely manner.

Santosh Sukhadeve also directed officers to ensure proper registration of laborers, to issue strict instructions to contractors and other agencies that engage laborers to follow the SOPs in letter and spirit and to ensure proper quarantine of the laborers before they are allowed to work on site.

The Deputy Commissioner also said that hotels and guests houses should also be issued instructions to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. He also directed the SDMs and the CMO Kargil to ensure that RT-PCR tests are conducted without fail and a 5 day quarantine period is followed in case of travelers, tourists and laborers. He also asked officers to take strict action against those not following the COVID-19 SOPs.

Other required measures like the involvement of religious organizations and PRI members to urge people to follow COVID appropriate behaviors, constitution of COVID Control Committees in the sub divisions, enhanced measures of contact tracing besides other related issues were discussed threadbare and various decisions were taken accordingly.