Srinagar, Jun 5 (IANS): The District Magistrate of South Kashmir's Shopian district has ordered that the staff of all clinics and labs in the district will be tested for Covid-19.

The order issued on Thursday by District Magistrate Ch. Mohammad Yasin, who is also the Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, said that since the last couple of weeks, many persons, especially pregnant women, without having any known history of contact with Covid positive persons, have tested positive for the virus.

"There are reports that these patients often visited various diagnostic centres/labs/clinics. In order to clear the doubts, it is hereby ordered that the staff of all diagnostic centres/labs/clinics of Shopian district shall be sampled and tested for Covid-19 immediately," the order read.

It added that till their test reports are received, all such diagnostic centres/labs/clinics shall remain closed.

"Any violation/ non-compliance of the order shall invite punitive action against the defaulter as per the Disaster Management Act," the order read.