100% vaccination of eligible population achieved in 20 villages, 1 lakh doses administered so far: DC Bandipora

Bandipora: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr. Owais Ahmad on Tuesday said that the district administration has been able to administer 1 lakh doses and vaccinate the 100 percent population of the eligible age group in 20 villages of the district.

Briefing the media regarding the management of COVID-19 in the district, Dr Owais said the administration launched an intensive vaccination drive in the district after a sustained awareness campaign that bore fruit. He said the field staff and the village level teams trekked several kilometers to reach certain inaccessible areas to vaccinate the people above the age of 45 years.

While appreciating the efforts of ground workers, he said 85 percent of the target age group of the district has been vaccinated so far and crossed the one lakh mark of doses administered to the people.

Earlier, Dr Owais inaugurated a special vaccination drive for specially-abled persons at mini-secretariat wherein the specially-abled persons will be provided to and fro transport facility to get vaccinated at these centres. The DC said that these special counters will be established in Sumbal and other areas also to ensure that the specially-abled don’t face any problems in this regard.

A medical kit containing immunity booster medicines were also provided to the specially-abled persons. Chief Medical Officer Dr Bashir Ahmad, Block Medical Officer and Medical Superintendent DH Bandipora was also present on the occasion.

While briefing the media about the covid19 cases in the district, Dr Owais said there are 538 active Covid-19 positive cases in the district out of which 50 patients are under hospital isolation in different covid hospitals of the district while 22 patients are in newly established Covid Care Centres (CCCs). He said only three patients are admitted in tertiary care hospital in Srinagar.

Dr Owais said the positivity rate has drastically decreased in the district while the recovery rate has increased to above 92 percent in the past few weeks.

He said ease in restrictions should not be taken as victory over viruses as the fight against the pandemic is still going on and there is no room for any sort of laxity. He said the infection is still there and we need to be extra cautious now to avoid getting infected by the disease.

He urged people to follow the COVID-19 guidelines religiously and adopt the covid-appropriate behaviour strictly. He said the administration has relaxed the lockdown and allowed opening of shops on rotational basis to avoid large crowds in the market. He appealed to people to visit markets only in case of emergencies and avoid unnecessary visits to the markets.

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