Govt unveils guidelines for de-notification of containment zones in J&K | KNO

Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Srinagar, June 24 (KNO): The government in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday issued guidelines for  de-notification of red zones and containment zones. As per the order, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) government said that it is imperative now to lay down certain uniform guidelines for de-notification of the Containment/Red Zones as per the SOP laid down earlier. “The said SOP laid down in detail the strategy to impose complete lockdown, guidelines for undertaking full Health screening and surveillance, facilitation of essential supplies and handling medical emergencies etc. in the notified Red/Containment zone,” the order states It further states  that the containment Zones/Red Zones have been notified by Deputy Commissioners based on the COVID-19 positive cases in specific areas and for which the Containment Zone/ Red Zone SOP issued vide Government Order No. 38-JK (DMRRR) of 2020 dated 14.04.2020 is being followed. “All districts need to follow a uniform approach for de-notification of Containment Zones/Red Zones in order to ensure effective control of the COVID-19 infection both in these zones and in the neighborhood.” The order also notified the criteria to be fulfilled for de-notification of containment and red zones which includes intensive testing prior to de-notification, sampling and testing using RTPCR testing should be undertaken and completed for the following groups between the 14th to 21st day from the date of notification of the Zone “All vulnerable persons to be tested including those with co- morbidities, pregnant women, those above 50 years of age, those with ILI SARI symptoms, etc. Swasthya Nidhi will be used for identification of vulnerable persons.” As per the order active Surveillance with at least three door to door visits for ILI (Influenza like illness) and SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness) cases in the notified Red zone ideally once every week. “Swasthya Nidhi will be used for surveillance.” “All service providers residing in and health care workers attending to people in the Containment Zone/Red Zone. At least 50% of the remaining residents of the Red Zone. Role of Epidemiological investigation: Epidemiological investigation by RRT teams should confirm the source of infection or identify the index cases in the notified Red Zone area and this should rule out any other hidden transmission in the said zone as well as probability of any missing case/contacts No Case for 21 days. The order stated that there should be no confirmed COVID positive case in the Containment Zone/ Red Zone, other than that of a traveler who is in quarantine from his date of arrival in the zone, for 21 days after the notification of the Containment Zone/ Red Zone. “Partial De-notification: On fulfillment of the above two criteria, the Containment Zone/Red Zone can be partially de-notified on the 22" day.” As per the guidelines random samples of 10% of the residents shall again be done from the 25 to 30th day. As per the guidelines if there are no more confirmed COVID positive cases, the Containment Zone/Red Zone will be fully de-notified.” This would mean that the Zone has had no positive case for 30 days.” “If a positive case is again reported from the Containment Zone/ Red Zone during the random sampling phase or earlier, it shall again be re-notified once again as a Containment Zone/ Red Zone and the SOP for these zones will be implemented again in toto,” the order states. As per the guidelines the partial de-notification and full de-notification can be done only after there is a clear gap of 21 days and 30 days respectively from the last positive case detected in the Zone—(KNO)