A CRPF trooper stands guard in the Red Zone declared locality of uptown Srinagar on Thursday. KO Pic Abid Bhat
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday issued standing operating procedure (SOPs) to be followed in the areas declared as ‘Red Zones’ in an attempt to combat spread of coronavirus in the Union Territory
In an order issued by the Chief Secretary, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam guidelines have been issued for the areas notified as Red Zones by the UT administration, an official spokesperson said.
According to the SOPs, the Red Zone will see a 100% lockdown and shall be completely sealed for any movement across its boundaries, whether outward or inwards. The Red Zone will possibly have only one opening which will be manned by Naka party and Magistrate.
“Stickers indicating Red Zone would be present at the point of entry / exit. The only movement across the red zone boundaries would be for medical supplies, essential commodities, medical emergencies, fumigation/sanitation, and enforcement/survey personnel,” the official spokesperson said.
“All entry and exit to the zone would be with red zone passes and proper fumigation of vehicles, safety of personnel and safety tunnels. Surrounding villages/ habitations will be declared as Buffer Zones,” he added.
The spokesperson further said that the entire Red Zone will be under surveillance and the people will be contacted periodically for rechecking for symptoms.
“There would be a 100% survey and screening of all persons in the red zone. The Surveillance procedure has already been issued and will be reissued with improvements,” the spokesperson said.
He said that there would be intensive testing of all contacts, of neighbours and of all those with symptoms. “In addition, there would be random sampling testing. A detailed health screening of the contacts and all souls within 300m will be carried out, the survey results would be geo-mapped,” he said.
He added that separate teams will be constituted for contact tracing, so that the doctors can handle medical load.
“Tehsildar or other suitable officer will be overall administrator of concerned Red Zone and system of passes for essential services or emergency will be set up and all necessary precautions before entering/leaving red zones shall be followed,” the spokesperson said.
He further added that dedicated Control Rooms will be established for all Red Zones individually or in groups depending upon size of the Red Zone which can also be integrated with helpline/Call centre to address the needs of residents.
“Designated officers will ensure provision of essential commodities while taking necessary precautions and using protective gear,” the spokesperson said, adding “All public places within the red zone will be fumigated twice a day. Banking arrangements such a mobile ATM or any other facilitation will be ensured,”
In-case of any Emergency, whether medical or otherwise, the spokesperson said the permission for movement will be provided by concerned SDM / Tehsildar.
“A medical team shall be placed in the adjoining buffer zone to cater to any medical emergency that might arise,” he added.
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