J&K frames medical strategy to combat coronavirus
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.
At least 245 people have been tested positive for the coronavirus and six persons have died of the disease in J&K.
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.
TNS
