‘COVID-19 situation under control; administration prepared to deal with any exigency’: DC Cachar

July 22: Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, Keerthi Jalli said though there has been spurt In COVID-19 positive cases in the district, the situation is by and large under control. Addressing a Press Conference at her office conference hall here on Wednesday evening, Deputy Commissioner Jalli said most of the positive cases that were detected were among security personnel numbering 263 as on Tuesday.

Jalli said the administration is fully geared to tackle the COVID-19 situation and to meet any exigency in case there is rise in the number of positive cases. “The administration is more than prepared to deal with the situation and has the wherewithal to fight coronavirus pandemic,” she asserted. However, she cautioned that the situation would spiral out of control if people do not adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines vis-a-vis wear masks or face cover, maintain social distancing and personal hygiene.

The Deputy Commissioner said enforcing total lockdown would hit the common man hard and would deprive them of their livelihoods. However, she was quick to add that the administration would take all segments of people into confidence before placing a proposal to the state government. She informed that based on a general consensus that was likely to emerge from a meeting with senior citizens, merchants’ associations and other segments of society slated for tomorrow, the administration would decide the future course of action.

Jalli said if the situation arises, the administration would go in for a makeshift 1,000 bedded COVID Care Centre. The Deputy Commissioner urged the people to cooperate with the administration in identifying suspected cases or persons with COVID-19 symptoms and also in contact tracing.Jalli said the administration has taken steps to ensure that no one gets infected while travelling to SMC&H to get their swab samples tested and has set up eight numbers of COVID screening centres at block level to provide more accessibility to the people.

She also urged the media to spread the message that there is no fear of a COVID-19 victim spreading contamination. “There is no fear whatsoever of a dead body of COVID-19 victim spreading disease once he or she passes away and there should be no stigma attached, ” she said, adding that SoPs are being strictly followed in performing last rites of such a victim. “It is of paramount importance to start tracing of persons he or she had come into contact with while he or she was alive to contain the disease, ” she added.

Jalli said that she had also met the religious leaders of all faiths and urged them to cooperate with the administration and to follow all the protocols at places of worship to arrest the spread of coronavirus. Additional Deputy Commissioner, Health, Sumit Sattawan said the administration is focusing on contact tracing and in according priority to the senior citizens, pregnant women and symptomatic cases. The press meet was also addressed by District Media Expert, Suman Choudhury. Deputy Director, Incharge, Information and Public Relations, Barak Valley Region, Sabir Nishat was also present.