LAHORE: On the instructions of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has issued advisory guidelines to prevent Covid-19 and Congo virus spread in cattle markets, especially before Eidul Azha.
NCOC instructed the relevant departments to get these instructions implemented throughout the province. Complying with this notification, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Sara Aslam instructed for establishing cattle markets at designated points, 2-5-kilometre away from the city premises.
According to the notification, people are advised not to bring children and elderly people to the markets. People having respiratory diseases are prohibited to visit the cattle markets, separate exit and entrance should be arranged in markets, along with availability of open parking facility.
According to NCOC, she guided to place the cattle in appropriately distanced areas and customers will not be allowed to mix up with animals inside Barras. Guiding about the infection prevention and control, she instructed to provide hand-hygiene facilities at entry point and multiple places within the market area.
A person without wearing mask will never be allowed to visit the market area. Health status of staff and visitors will be assured, whereas, cattle traders, market staff, veterinary clinic staff and food stall vendors/ staff should have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations and present the certificate. Information about any suspected case of Covid-19 will be passed to respective districts health authority or by calling 1033 for testing. On adding instructions for veterinary clinics, livestock department will be responsible for monitoring the health status of animals. Talking about Crimean Congo Hemorrhage Fever, she said it is a widespread disease caused by a tick-born virus with 10-40pc fatality rate. Animals get infected by infected tick bite, while healthcare workers, along with all related people should wear light colored dress for easy detection of ticks on clothes. If person is suspected of Covid-19 or Congo Virus they must be reported to medical camp. There must be proper waste management facility in markets for avoiding any infectious spread, she said.