Srinagar, Dec 2 : Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather on Thursday chaired a meeting with health officials including Chief Medical Officers, NHM officials, Medical Superintendents of hospitals to discuss the Covid-19 scenario.
A spokesperson of the Directorate of Health Services said in a statement to Kashmir Despatch that the Director reviewed all the Covid-19 related arrangements and discussed measures being put in place in view of the Covid variant Omicron, classified as a Variant of Concern by the WHO.
He directed all the Chief Medical Officers and Medical Superintendents to remain in an alert situation and keep the hospitals in ready mode in case of any kind of eventuality.
The Director directed the officials to keep at least 20 beds available in district hospitals and keep the Covid-19 related supplies available in hospitals for any kind of eventuality.
Dr Mushatq stressed on IEC activities and awareness should be increased among the general public and said that adherence to SOPs, Covid Appropriate Behavior, social distancing and wearing of masks are the first line of defense of any kind of variant.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the director appealed the general public to follow the SOPS besides other precautionary measures to help contain the virus spread.
All the CMOs, Medical Superintendents and other officials were given the latest guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, which were revised afresh in view of the Covid variant Omicron.
During the meeting, the Director focused on testing and directed the hospital administrators that testing should be increased that case detection becomes easy.
Dr Mushtaq said people have been a bit complacent and they should continue to follow the precautionary measures and follow the guidelines in letter and spirit.
The director said showing some disregard towards established SOPs could have disastrous consequences and can be very detrimental in our fight against the virus.
He said the department is ready and all the measures related to oxygen supplies and availability of medicines besides other arrangements have already been put in place to face any eventuality.
