Srinagar, Mar 24: Three more persons on Tuesday tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kashmir bringing the total number of infected people to four.
However, the authorities asked people not to panic and urged them to be more alert and cooperative to stop further spread of the disease in the valley.
“Two more cases reported positive in Srinagar. One has confirmed travel history outside India. Full details regarding the second being ascertained,” J&K Union Territory Administration spokesperson Rohit Kansal said on Tuesday.
Later in the evening one more person tested positive for COVID-19.
Reacting to the recent development, District magistrate Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said teams are on ground as per Standard Operation Procedure (SOP). “We need to be more alert and cooperative. Please cooperate,” he added.
Sources said that one of the two Coronavirus positive patients had returned from an international conference in New Delhi while another has a travel history of Saudi Arabia. “The third had also come back to the valley few days back,” they said.
They said one of them, a resident of Natipora Srinagar, had returned from Saudi Arabia on March 16 in the same flight which was boarded by the woman, who was the first coronavirus positive case in the valley. “The 57-year-old man was admitted to CD hospital couple of days back,” they said.
They said the other patient, a resident of Hyderpora Srinagar, had returned from New Delhi recently after attending ‘Tablighi Jamaat’ attended by people from Indonesia and Malaysia.
They said a person was admitted to Government Medical College, Baramulla with coronavirus like symptoms few days back. “The result of the 22-year-old youth came out positive for the virus,” they added.
Meanwhile, the daily media bulletin on novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) released by the government on Tuesday evening informed that 4765 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance and, so far, only six cases have tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir and one among them has already recovered.
The bulletin said that 2928 persons have been kept under home quarantine while as 71 are in hospital quarantine.
Persons who are under home surveillance stand at 1268 while as 498 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period.
The bulletin further said that 279 samples have been sent for testing of which 253 tested as negative. Only six persons have tested positive so far and of them only five are Active Positive and one patient has recovered.
The bulletin further stated that 20 reports are awaited till March 24, 2020.
Meanwhile, a 24×7 toll free national helpline number 1075 has been activated for support, guidance, and response to health related queries on novel coronavirus disease. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has also set up helpline numbers in this regard: 0191-2549676 (UT level Cell for J&K), 0191-2520982, 0191-2674444, 0191-2674115 (For Jammu Division),0194-2440283 and 0194-2430581 (For Kashmir Division).
According to government advisory, public is urged to stay at home to slow the spread of the Novel Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) and advised not to venture out unless it is absolutely essential.
The government has appealed the students and travellers having travel history of Covid-19 affected countries and other affected areas of the country who have not declared their travel history till date to report their travel history to local health authorities / Covid-19 helpline Numbers immediately. According to the advisory, family members, neighbours and people in general are appealed to bring such cases in notice of the administration, so that necessary measures in the interest of public health can be taken by the Government.
The government has also urged public to implement Social Distancing measures as it is the Key to stop and prevent the spread of Covid-19 from those who are infected to those who are not infected. The intervention includes remaining out of crowded settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.
Further, the Government has appealed people to not panic and take care of health and protect others.
“Public in general is therefore advised to avoid un-necessary travel & use of public transport; avoid crowded places and large gatherings, do not spit in public. People must take basic precautions for personal hygiene; frequent hand washing with soap & water; and observing coughing & sneezing etiquettes,” the Government advisory added.
The advisory also calls upon the general public to strictly follow the advisories issued by the Government from time to time and rely only on the information released by the government in this regard through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media. Furthermore, people are advised to refrain from spreading rumours and pay no heed to them at the same time.(With Inputs From UNI)
