Admin ups ante on COVID violators in Srinagar; experts warn against reopening of schools

Srinagar: The administration has up the ante on people violating COVID-19 guidelines in view of the summer capital, Srinagar turning into a hotspot for fresh Coronavirus cases amid gross violations of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) imposed to curtail the spread of the pandemic.

Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Nisar-ul-Hassan and others health experts have warned against reopening of educational institutes, particularly schools, in view of rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city, which has registered over 55 per cent of the total fresh cases recorded in the valley during the last fortnight.

Attributing non-compliance of COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) as the main reason for rise of fresh positive cases in the city, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Aijaz Asad urged people to follow the guidelines in letter and spirit to prevent the ‘third wave’.

Meanwhile, the Srinagar administration has come down heavily on COVID violators by imposing fines and detaining people in order to strictly impose the guidelines, including maintaining social distance and wearing masks.

Asad said that compliance to COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) has become more important in view of rise in the number of fresh positive cases in the city. “Fresh COVID-19 cases during the last over 10 days have increased rapidly. The fresh cases which used to be between 20 and 30 have risen to 80,” he said.

The rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city can be attributed to the gross violation of COVID-19 guidelines, including during government, political functions and sports events, which has been witnessing huge gatherings. These events are being held despite a cap of 25 people imposed by the administration on indoor and outdoor activities in the Union Territory.
The Deputy Commissioner said that during the last three weeks, there has been three fold increase in fresh positive cases in Srinagar. “If we analyze this trend, it becomes clear that the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases is due to violation of guidelines. I once again appeal to the general public and all market associations to follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour in letter and spirit. If people don’t follow the guidelines, they are inviting a third wave,” he added.

Besides fine, the administration has launched a drive to get more people vaccinated by setting up mobile vaccination booths in different parts of the city. “The administration has sealed many shops and business establishments after the employees were found violating COVID guidelines. Fines are also being imposed on violators so that people adhere to guidelines and help prevent a possible third wave,” an official said.

The surge in the cases could pose a serious threat as it comes at a time when the administration is planning to reopen High, Higher Secondary Schools, colleges and universities in the UT. The administration last week in an order, said that classes for the 10th and 12th standard will be permitted with limited in-person teaching not exceeding 50 per cent on any given day for those students and staff who have been vaccinated. However, all religious places, including major mosques and shrines, continued to remain closed in Kashmir.

Dr Hassan said that the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Srinagar could be an indication of a possible third wave. “As long as we have a pool of susceptible people in the form of unvaccinated population, which is huge, it could very well be an indication of a possible third wave. In the rest of the country, the cases are surging… so we have some pockets where we have indication of a possible third wave,” Dr Hassan told UNI.

The DAK said that a preemptive approach — in terms of testing, vaccination, isolation and tracking – is the need of the hour. “Most importantly vaccination needs to be geared up. But, till the time we get the susceptible pool vaccination we might have to go for micro containments. The areas where we have good number of positive cases should be blocked. Second important step is to continue testing, tracking and isolation,” he said.

Dr Hassan said that with such a susceptible pool, we need to take this seriously. “About 38 per cent of the population of J&K is children, who have not been vaccinated,” he said.

He said the educational institutes should not be reopened at a time when the number of cases is increasing. “Children don’t have serious complications due to COVID, but they can be carries who can infect the elderly and other family members. So they can be spreaders. They can spread it in the community,” he said.

So, he said to prevent the community spread, ‘we have to go for old ways of containment measures and continue testing, tracking and isolation measures’.

“At the same time, we have to increase the vaccination process on war footing so that before the third wave hits we have people vaccinated,” he added.

According to the data accessed by UNI, Kashmir valley reported 1451 fresh COVID-19 cases between September 1 and September 13. Out of these, 839 cases were recorded in Srinagar alone. “The city has witnessed a major chunk of fresh cases in the last fortnight. Most of the above mentioned events are being held without adhering to COVID-19 guidelines. People are not wearing masks and maintaining social distances,” official sources said.
UNI