Srinagar, Apr 23, KDC: As the second wave of COVID mounts an unprecedented challenge in the entire country including Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Junaid Matoo has suggested slew of measures to LG to control COVID surge in the city including closure of tourist sites and disallowing all congregational prayers.
In a letter a copy of which lies with News Agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) read “As the second wave of COVID mounts an unprecedented challenge in the entire country including Jammu and Kashmir, I want to reaffirm the full cooperation of Srinagar Municipal Corporation to the Administration in taking every possible measure to contain the spread of COVID and saving precious lives. I want to reaffirm the full cooperation of Srinagar Municipal Corporation to the Administration in taking every possible measure to contain the spread of COVID and saving precious lives.’’
The letter reads ‘While the Administration is taking every required step and is monitoring the evolving situation closely, I wanted to request for the following measures to be implemented in Srinagar City limits to help contain COVID optimally and effectively: Shutting down of all Tourist Gardens, monuments and tourist sites, Making a negative RT-PCR test report mandatory for anyone entering Srinagar by air or through the road routes, Shutting down our OPDs at Government and Private Hospitals to reduce the strain on our healthcare infrastructure, better isolate our frontline health workers and allow them a better and safer atmosphere in their valiant fight against COVID. All emergent cases can be treated at Emergency Wings and designated COVID centers at the hospitals. Ceasing all elective, non-emergent procedures and surgeries at the hospitals till the situation improves and vaccination rates go up. Surgeries and procedures for emergent and terminal patients should be prioritized.
“Disallowing all congregational prayers and religious gatherings at places of worship in Srinagar and seeking community consensus and involvement in mounting this challenge together,“ it added.
“A 50% attendance roster on rotational basis at all essential services Government and Public Offices. A 33% attendance roster on rotational basis at all non-essential-services Government and Public Offices. A 33% attendance roster on rotational basis for teachers of Government and private schools (those that continue to seek presence of teachers for administrative and curriculum dissemination purposes). A 33% rotational regulation for vendor-markets and flea-markets in Srinagar – regulating crowds that throng these markets. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) had initiated a regulation of these markets during the first wave of COVID and I’m of the firm opinion the same needs to be replicated now without any delay. Constitution of a multi-agency field task-force to enforce COVID guidelines (Mask-usage, physical-distancing and restrictions in outdoor and indoor gatherings) as issued by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) with a strong law-enforcement liaison. Deployment of Reserve Battalions of Jammu and Kashmir Police to enforce adherence to COVID guidelines should be considered for this initiative. A comprehensive, multi-media and multi-pronged community awareness campaign with door-to-door initiatives to ensure maximum possible success of the COVID vaccination drive,” reads the letter. (KDC)