Testing to be intensified ahead of Eid, to avoid spread of virus: DC B’pora

Bandipora: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr. Owais Ahmad Tuesday said the district administration is going to intensify covid testing with special focus on service providers in view of the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha.
The DC said this while briefing the media about covid situation in the district. He said the festival time will witness huge rush in markets and hence the service providers will be tested weekly to identify and isolate positive patients to check the spread of virus.
He said the Covid-19 situation is improving gradually with a steep decrease in positive cases and improvement in recovery rate during the past few weeks.
Giving details, he said there are 80 active positive cases in the district out of which only seven are on oxygen support while rest of the patients are having mild symptoms or no symptoms and have been quarantined at home.
Dr Owais informed that recovery rate went further up to about 98 percent while positivity rate remained 0.4 percent during this period.
Regarding vaccination, the DC said the target has been achieved with regard to the vaccination of the target age group of 45 plus while vaccination of 18-45 age groups is going on. He said 1.40 lac doses have been provided to the people so far.
He urged the people to take extra care during the Eid festival and follow CAB strictly. He urged people not to visit crowded places and do their shopping early to avoid last moment rush in the markets. He said the administration will monitor the situation keenly and warned of action against violators of SOPs.
Dr. Owais appealed to the eligible people to get vaccinated forthwith so that more vaccinations in a shorter span of time are done which will translate into significant Herd Immunity sooner.
The DC said that the Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) and SOPs are vital to prevent any spike in infections and cautioned against any complacency on part of the stakeholders so that the virus is kept at bay and its spread is curtailed further.