District Magistrate, Kargil, Santosh Sukhadeve took stock of the COVID-19 mitigation measures in the district on May 21 at DC Office, Kargil.

He  reviewed the surveillance, screening, testing, stock position of medicines, testing kits, oxygen supply and demand, vaccination strategy and supply, labour management, provision of free ration to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and other related aspects.

Chief Medical Officer, Kargil was asked to provide face shields to the frontline and health workers at the earliest possible. ACD, Kargil was asked to further strengthen the level of coordination between the field functionaries of Rural Development and the PRI members to enhance the intensity of surveillance in the rural pockets of the district.

District Magistrate directed that the Healthcare workers and 45 plus age group should be saturated, and 100 percent vaccination must be achieved under these categories. He also stressed that there should be least wastage of vaccines and concrete measures should be taken to reduce the positivity rate below 5%.

While underlining the need to intensify testing to identify COVID-19 cases,  DM said that the testing ratio should be increased at all major towns and strict checks and measures should be done to check the fake tests at entry points.

He also directed the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kargil to ensure the provision of proper ration and healthcare and hygiene facilities to labourers in the labour camps and quarantine centres of BRO, GREF, private contractors and other concerned agencies. 

It was informed that 21000 RNA kits, 26000 RT-PCR kits, 2200 Trunat kits, 2130 CBNAAT kits, 34150 RAT kits and 53921 VTM are in stock.

Regarding the block wise achievement of COVID-19 vaccination in Kargil under the 60 years age group, the meeting was informed that 87% in case of the 1^st dose and 92% in case of the 2^nd dose has been achieved, adding under 45-60 age group with co-morbidities 89% achievement has been recorded in case of the 1^st dose and 40% in case of 2^nd dose. It was further given out that 88% vaccination has been completed in case of the 1^st dose for the 45-59 years age group with non-comorbidities. 

Regarding the status of COVID beds at different hospitals, CHCs and PHCs of the district, it was informed that at present there is a capacity of a total of 312 beds including 164 beds supported with oxygen concentrators, 100 non-ICU beds and 48 ICU beds. Also, addition to the 80,18,500 litres oxygen available plus 263 oxygen concentrators, 2 oxygen plants with a capacity of 500 LPM each are functional. Further, 66 ICU ventilators, 14 portable and 18 HFNOs besides 2 Paediatric Ventilators and 12 HFNOs have also been added recently.