Several Srinagar hotels among 65 buildings designated as quarantine facilities

Srinagar, Mar 21: The Srinagar administration has requisitioned 65 well-equipped hotels and government accommodations to be used as quarantine facilities for citizens arriving back in Srinagar from outside countries and those who might have contact into with the COVID-19 positive case in the district.

The hotels requisitioned for the purpose are all 3-star certified with all facilities to facilitate comfortable quarantine. The government accommodations acquired are also all well-equipped.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary visited over half of these quarantine facilities where the returnees have been shifted for undergoing the recommended quarantine.

He inspected the facilities made available at these centres and also interacted with all the people shifted into them.

He urged all the persons shifted to these facilities to complete their recommended quarantine period assuring them of provision of all kinds of facilities and care during the period. He stressed that it was for their personal safety and that of their dear ones among others.

Senior health and medical professionals accompanying the DC informed them about the importance of quarantining and do’s and don’ts that need following.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Shahid said all these quarantine centres have been equipped with all kinds of facilities ranging from food to recreation to medical-care to ensure comfortable and safe stay for the quarantined.

He said all these facilities acquired under orders of the government have been provided with requisite medical supervision adding that special medical teams with diagnostic and other equipment and items have been made available thereat. He said concerned incharge officers have been made responsible for ensuring provision of all required facilities and needs of quarantined persons.

Senior officers from concerned departments including Chief Medical Officer Dr Talat Jabeen and Joint Director Planning M Yaseen Lone accompanied the DC on the occasion.

Administration also converted an 80- room hotel in Boulevard into quarantine facility.Deputy Commissioner Srinagar said the accommodation was offered voluntarily by a hotelier for community service to defeat coronavirus. “Tiger Zinda hai!! Let us clap for Mr. Irshad who came all the way to offer keys of his hotel to help us. # Coronavirus,” he tweetedIrshad Ahmad told The Kashmir Monitor that he decided to offer his hotel to help the administration in tackling coronavirus in the valley.“Government approached me and I instantly offered my hotel to be used for the students who arrived in Srinagar from different countries. Kashmir is going through the worst phase and we should extend a helping hand on humanitarian basis,” he said.President Kashmir Hoteliers and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHROF) Abdul Wahid Malik told The Kashmir Monitor that there are many other hotels that would be used as a quarantine facility.“The government has used Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation accommodation so far. Now hotels from Boulevard, Nowgam, and Rajbagh will be also used as quarantine facility by the government,” he said.