Nearly 1800 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Covid Care Centres in Srinagar with nearly 1000 of them discharged during the last 10 days.
This was informed in a meeting convened here to review the COVID-19 containment measures and patient-care in care centres for COVID-19 patients in Srinagar.
The meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chairman District Disaster Management Authority (Deputy Commissioner) Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, also reviewed the capacities and facilities in Covid Care Centres, efforts to reach out to and medical-care of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients quarantined at home, contact tracing, sampling, upscaling of public outreach efforts, information dissemination and other related measures the district administration is involved in in Srinagar.
Ongoing measures taken in the wake of sharp spike in COVID-19 cases two weeks after the unlock period beginning 13 June were also reviewed during the meeting. It is notable that over 4000 Covid positive cases were reported in a period of one month of easing restrictions on commercial and business operations in the district — which necessitated notification of more containment zones and reimposing of lockdown restrictions.
The meeting was informed that the district administration established 4000-bedded Covid Care Centres at various locations during the lockdown period equipped with required medical support. These centres have so far discharged around 1800 COVID-19 patients admitted therein for treatment — 988 these patients were discharged during the last 10 days.
It was informed that pursuant to change in quarantine policy as notified last week, 640 of 711 new cases were home-quarantined under medical supervision while the remaining were admitted to hospitals.
The meeting was informed that the IVRS Call Centre established earlier in the district contacts recovered COVID-19 affected persons regularly, adding that it also makes regular calls to asymptomatic patients quarantined at home to take note of and keep a check on their requirements and conditions.
In the meantime, the Covid Care Centres or CCCs established in the district are being equipped for handling symptomatic patients. Also another 1200-bedded facility is being created in outskirts of city. The DC along with SE PWD, CMO Srinagar and technical experts visited the spot where this additional facility is being set up to take stock of its progress.
Speaking at the meeting the DC directed for strict compliance to mandatory SOPs for home-quarantine including availability of space, downloading of Aarogyasetu App, provision of Oximeters, visit of reach-out teams, regular calls, medical advice and other basic requirements. He said patients having insufficient space at home can opt for admission in Covid Care Centres.
The details related to sampling of contacts, random sampling in red zones, mandatory testing of travellers, service providers, aged, co-morbid and other categories were also reviewed during the meeting.
It was informed that more than 80,000 persons have been sampled or tested for Covid-19 in Srinagar district which includes samples taken from various zones, service providers, contacts, random cases, sampling of returnees (travellers by air and road), in transit and more than 4000 in various institutions.
It was further informed that out of 5590 cumulative positives which also include more than 1300 belonging to other districts or areas around 3000 have already recovered. The meeting decided to continue focus on qualitative sampling for early tracing of cases. Special focus is being laid on sampling of high risk categories.
Chief Medical Officer and Zonal Medical Officers were asked to further activate teams for house-hold level counselling, visiting vulnerable areas and community outreach. It was informed that members of outreach teams have been drawn from ICDS, BLOs, SMC.
Assistant Commissioner Development was directed for widespread public awareness and participation in mitigation efforts in rural areas. It was informed that funds have been provided to Panchayats on this accounts. Experts from SPM department of Govt Medical College presented details for next phase of public outreach campaign. IEC campaign through print, electronic, social media and signage, posters, hoardings etc is aimed at creating further awareness among masses for adherence to SOPs.
Deputy Commissioner (Excise), Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, who is the designated nodal officer of DDMA for Covid Care Centers briefed the meeting about the status of facilities and further plan of upgradation to meeting the ICMR requirements for symptomatic patients in case of continued surge in cases.
It was informed that the District Administration has planned expanding the bed capacity with oxygen supply and medical care to meet any emergency. Team headed by the Superintending Engineer PWD (R&B) in coordination with experts from the health department and Govt Medical College has been assigned the task of capacity enhancement.
Discussion was also held for effective coordination between Hospitals, health department and nodal officers for different assignments, and control rooms. The meeting was attended by officers from Administration, SKIMS, GMC, SKIMS-MCH, Health, SMC, RDD, NHM, Nodal Officers, heads of control rooms, HODs and others .
Dr Shahid said the district administration is ready and equipped to meet any exigency focused planning for time ahead. He said daily monitoring and review of all new cases is held to ensure all requirements are covered as and when these arise.(KNS)
