Srinagar, Mar 11: Despite testing negative for coronavirus, seven patients will continue to remain quarantined at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) as a precautionary measure.
In-charge Medical Superintendent, SKIMS, Dr. Ghulam Hassan Yattoo said all the seven will continue to remain in the quarantine facility.
“They are in the hospital quarantine and under an active surveillance,” Dr Yattoo said.
Epidemiologist, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, Kashmir, Dr. Manzoor Qadri said around 923 persons are home quarantined.
“In addition to this, one person is in the quarantine facility at Government Medical College, Srinagar,” Dr. Qadri said.
A senior doctor at SMHS hospital said quarantine is used to separate and restrict the movement of persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease.
“These people may have been exposed to a disease. They might not have visible symptoms. The quarantine can also help limit the spread of communicable disease,” he said.
The administration of Jammu and Kashmir has stepped up preparedness to identify the symptoms and deal promptly with the emerging infection of coronavirus across the globe.
Although no positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in Kashmir, health officials said all hospitals should ensure their staffs are trained, and well-prepared to deal with the virus.
The government has been issuing advisories to inform people of the precautionary measures and symptoms associated with with1 coronavirus.
It has strengthened the surveillance and control measures against the diseases and helpline numbers +91-0191-2549676 (UT level Cell for J&K), +91-0191-25220982 (Jammu Division) and +91-0194-2440283 (For Kashmir Division) has already been established for the convenience of people.
Also, the additional trained staff has been placed for screenings at the Srinagar Airport and National Highway. An isolation center has been set up at Sanat Nagar and Bemina so that the suspected cases are directly taken there instead of the tertiary care unit.
