Following the emerging situation due to COVID-19 and in view of the opening of Leh-Srinagar national highway, Baseer ul Haq Choudhary, District Magistrate/ Deputy Commissioner Kargil issued an order on March 15 for the establishment of a screening post at Meenamarg and a quarantine center at Drass.
 
Baseer ul Haq Choudhary directed the SDM/Tehsildar and Block Medical Officer, Drass to establish a full-fledged screening post at Meenamarg within three days positively which shall remain functional 24×7. Also, they were asked to establish a Quarantine Center in the TRC building near Tourist Dak Bungalow Drass with at least 50 beds and all other necessary facilities.
 
SDM/Tehsildar Drass, Chief Medical Officer Kargil and Block Medical Officer Kargil were instructed to depute screening and monitoring squads at the screening post and quarantine center on week wise schedule basis ensuring proper duty roasters. All the squads shall ensure 100% screening of the passengers/tourists/drivers and military/para-military personnel at Meenamarg. Under no circumstances can any individual be allowed to enter Drass without screening. Proper record of all screened individuals on a daily basis in the prescribed format issued should be maintained and submit the same to the Control Room established at DC Office, Kargil.
 
The order states that during the screening process if any individual is suspected to have COVID-19 symptoms, he/she shall be immediately shifted to the Quarantine Center at Drass and after examination/observation there if the doctor is convinced that the individual/patient has a high probability of COVID-19 infection, he/she shall be immediately shifted to the Isolation Ward established at GNM Nursing School Kurbathang, Kargil.
 
Chief Medical Officer, Kargil was asked to keep one ambulance at Meenamarg and one at Drass in complete readiness for the evacuation of suspected patients to Drass and Kargil respectively.
 
The order further reads that the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kargil shall make all necessary security arrangements at both Meenamarg Screening Post and Drass Quarantine Center while the SDM/Tehsildar Drass shall make all necessary boarding and lodging including heating arrangements for the screening and monitoring squads at both locations.
 
All the line departments of Drass subdivision have been instructed to extend full cooperation to the SDM/Tehsildar, Drass for any kind of help or support asked for.
 
Strict action will be taken against officers/officials of any department in case of the non-compliance of instructions.
 
Meanwhile, SDM/Tehsildar Drass has been nominated as the Nodal Officer for the entire process of screening, monitoring, and quarantine.