There has been a jump in the number of red zones identified by the administration in Jammu and Kashmir parts where fears of community transmission loom large, officials said on Monday.
Officials said four more places, one in Jammu and three in Kashmir divisions, were declared as Red Zones on Monday after reports that the patients who tested positive in previous days may have mingled freely with the locals in their respective areas.
“Waskura village in Ganderbal and Gujjar Nagar and Trikuta Nagar in Jammu have been declared Red Zones due to the fears of community transmission,” a senior health official said.
“With this, the number of red zones in Jammu and Kashmir has reached more than dozen,” the official added.
Earlier, Hajin, in north Kashmir, was declared red zone after a resident of the area, tested positive for the virus. He had also mingled with the community freely.
A senior doctor posted with the administration efforts to control the virus said only more aggressive testing can find out the scale of the virus’s prevalence in Kashmir.
“It has not reached the stage of community transmission yet but we are certainly a borderline case,” the doctor said.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Administration declared Waskura village on Monday as Red Zone and its surrounding villages-Kharbagh, Batwina and Ahan as buffer zones, as a precautionary measure.
According to prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC and Disaster Management Act, 2005, District Magistrate Ganderbal Shafqat Iqbal said, there would be no inward and outward movement of any person from the village declared Red Zone and the people would stay in their homes to ensure complete lockdown.
He warned of stern action against the violators as per provisions relevant act.
The order has been issued in view of the COVID-19 positive case from Hajin Bandipora who has come in contact with many persons including relatives belonging to Village Waskura Ganderbal due to which the area has become vulnerable as far as transmission of the COVID-19 virus is concerned.
The District Magistrate Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal along ADM Ganderbal Farooq Ahmad Baba visited the area to monitor the situation and said it becomes imperative to take stringent precautionary measures like declaring village as Red Zone and surrounding villages as a buffer zone to break transmission of the disease in the area.
Besides 13 people have been quarantined who have come in contact with the infected person, he added.
Meanwhile, the DM directed the nominated Administrator of Red Zone and Buffer Zones to ensure supply of essential commodities as per laid down protocols in the villages covering both local residents and outside labourers and Tehsildar Wakura was directed to ensure the implementation of the directions in letter and spirit.
In another statement, invoking prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, Disaster Management Act and The Epidemic Disease Act, District Magistrate Shopian said that there would be no inward and outward movement of any person from the villages declared red zones and the people would stay in their homes to ensure complete lockdown.
In this regard District Magistrate today issued order according to which Ramnagri and Sedow, fall in red zone category while adjoining villages of these tehsils have been declared buffer zones, for the of safety and well being of general public.
The order further reads that there would be no vehicular movement on these roads.
“The area has become more vulnerable as far as further transmission of the COVID-19 virus is concerned. It is necessary to break further transmission of the disease in the area and it becomes imperative to take stringent precautionary measures like declaring concerned villages as red zones and other villages.
DM directed the officials concerned to ensure supply of essential commodities as per laid down protocols in the villages covering both local residents and outside labourers and warned of stern action against anyone who tries to violate orders.