Admin Asks Uri residents not to panic; ‘120 contacts of COVID-19 patients almost traced’

Mohammad Saad

Srinagar, April 3 (GNS): Authorities in Baramulla district on Friday appeal people not to panic as 120 contacts of two teachers who tested positive for coronavirus has been identified. “We request people not to panic,” Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, G N Itoo, told GNS. “I have directed the concerned SDM to start contact-tracing of the contacts of these two persons and take other measures are required as we have everything in place to combat against the disease,” he said.

When contacted, Reyaz Malik, the SDM, told GNS that both these persons had travelled to Jammu and later attended a religious function (Ijteema) at Samba.

“Both came in contact with people who were already infected at Samba and contracted the disease,” he said.

He said three more of their associates, who had visited Nizamuddin in New Delhi, tested negative.

“Both of them returned from Samba to Uri Baramulla on March 16 and next day on March 17 they attended a religious function at a local mosque Masjid where almost 120 people were present,” he said, adding, “We have seized the registry of the mosque and identified all the 120 persons and accordingly are being traced”.

He said that most of them are approaching the authorities on their own and they all will be quarantined in Shahqote Boniyar where a facility has been set up.

“We have already quarantined the families of the two COVID-19 patients and have recommended their tests and are being shifted to Baramulla GMC.”

 In the meantime, he said, the whole area where the positive persons reside have been sealed and areas within the radius of 300 meters have been declared as “red zones.”

 “We have made announcements through local mosques, police also made announcements through public address systems fitted on vehicles, urging people not to venture outside and those people who came in contact with these positive patients shall come forward at the earliest,” he said. (GNS)