Chairman/CEC LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson reviewed the current situation of rising COVID-19 cases in Leh district at Council Secretariat on May 5.
 
DC/Chairman DDMA Leh, Shrikant Suse; ADC Leh, Sonam Chosjor; CMO Leh, Dr. Motup Dorje; I/C MS, SNM Leh, Dr. T Motup; ASP Leh, Tashi Phuntsog; I/C Covid Command Centre Leh, Namgyal Angmo and Executive Magistrate/Tehsildar Leh, Attah-Ullah attended the meeting.
 
CMO Leh, Dr. Motup Dorje briefed the officials on the current scenario and the steps taken by the health department in containing COVID positive cases in the district. He apprised the officials of the alarming situation of the surge in COVID positive cases among locals, especially in younger citizens. They added that a sudden spike in the number of COVID positive cases has also arisen in the sub-division of Nubra and Khaltse which could be a serious concern for a turn towards community spread in the district. 
 
I/C Medical Superintendent, SNM Hospital Leh, Dr. Tashi Motup apprised the Chairman of the current status of COVID-19 patients admitted at SNM hospital, Leh. He extended his gratitude to the Chairman, LAHDC Leh, MP Ladakh, and District Police Leh for their prompt action in deploying security personnel at the entrance of the COVID-19 ward at SNM Hospital Leh for monitoring the attendees of COVID positive patients in controlling the chain of contacts. He also updated the officials of the need for preparations for critical situations and seeks assistance from the District Administration and LAHDC Leh for implementing strict measures in controlling the spread of the virus in the district.
 
CMO and I/C MS, SNM Hospital Leh apprised the Chairman of the status of bed capacity at SNM Hospital, the supply of oxygen at the hospitals, COVID Care Centres at all blocks, quarantine facilities, and the enforcement of village-level surveillance teams in all the villages. They highlighted the need for increasing bedding capacity at the hospital for handling COVID patients looking at the rising positive cases in the town. CEC Gyalson assured to assist in fulfilling all the requirements with utmost priority.
 
The meeting discussed the status of institutional quarantine centres in Leh with ensuring strict adherence to COVID protocols at the centres. It was discussed in the meeting to set up a screening point at Sarchu for the passengers travelling to Leh from Manali. Compulsory ICMR approved COVID negative reports for non-local travellers and mandatory quarantine for local passengers after the screening was also decided and will be implemented once the highway re-opens for transportation.
 
After reviewing the concerns, CEC Gyalson and DC Shrikant ensure the implementation of strict preventive measures to break the chain of Coronavirus transmission in Leh. Taking note of the complaints from the health department on receiving wrong information with regards to phone numbers and residential addresses from local passengers at the screening points, DC Leh directed officials of health departments to ensure adherence to COVID protocols and asked to take strict actions against the violators. 
 
A virtual meeting later with the BDC Chairpersons and Sarpanches of Leh district was also held to review and assess COVID-19 preparation at block/village level. Concern BDC Chairpersons and Sarpanches raise their concerns and issues to the CEC and DC Leh. 
 
Highlighting the recent spike in COVID positive cases due to a large number of social gatherings happening in villages around Leh, CEC Gyalson and DC Shrikant seeks assistance from the concerned public representatives in monitoring and controlling the spread of the virus at village and block level. Setting up of panchayat level institutional quarantine centres in villages was also discussed during the meeting to ease the burden on dedicated institutional quarantine centres in Leh.