Gearing up its machinery across all the district headquarters, the Jammu & Kashmir administration on Thursday imposed strict restrictions in both Jammu and Srinagar on the movement of general public and also ordered closure of all shops except those supplying essential commodities to contain spread of coronavirus.
So far four positive cases have been reported in Jammu & Kashmir, three in Jammu and one in Srinagar.
In Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Sushma Chauhan directed different teams along with local police to strictly enforce the orders on ground zero. All the markets in the walled city of Jammu were closed down to restrict movement of general public.
Majority of areas of downtown in Srinagar also observed complete shutdown following strict restrictions. A 67-year-old lady was tested positive in Khanyar area on Wednesday. The district administration had constituted over 20 medical teams to screen local residents in the area and detect any suspected case of coronavirus who may have come in contact with the lady, with a travel history to Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Katra town, base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, wore a deserted look on Thursday following suspension of yatra. The trains reaching Katra ferried less than 100 passengers, many among them were local residents.
All the hotels and guest houses across Reasi district were also directed to close down commercial operations after the suspension of yatra till March 31. Section 144 was also imposed in different district headquarters of Kulgam, Pulwama, Bandipore, Kupwara in Jammu & Kashmir to restrict Assembly of more than four persons at one place. Separate advisories were also issued by different deputy commissioners urging public to avoid visiting crowded places including Banks, public parks, and avoid travelling using public transport buses.
District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said restrictions are a preventive measure aimed at containing spread of the infection in the district.
The restrictions order States that public movement including pedestrian and transport and operation of business and other kinds of establishments will be restricted across the district till further notice.
Dr Shahid said the restrictions order is an extension of the order issued earlier under the disaster management act 2005 adding that all instructions issued under both orders must be implemented in letter and strict. He said violations would constitute a criminal offence and attract strict penal action.
Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir Government on Thursday informed that 356 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period and, so far, only four cases have been tested positive in Jammu & Kashmir.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), 3146 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance while as 2337 persons are under home quarantine.
Persons who are in hospital quarantine stand at 34 and 419 persons are under home surveillance.
Further, the Bulletin said that 156 samples have been sent for testing, of which 144 tested as negative and only four cases have tested positive.