Advisory urges public to practice social distancing, avoid guests, neighbours visit to reduce risk of infection transmission
Nadeem Nadu/ Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, May 27: Two more people died due to novel coronavirus in Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday. These fatalities taken the death toll due to the disease in the Jammu and Kashmir to 26—23 in Valley and 3 in Jammu.
One among the victims includes a 70-year-old man from Sarnal Anantnag who died yesterday at GMC Anantnag and report came out positive posthumously, sources said.
The other is a 55-year-old resident of Fateh Kadal Srinagar who had tested positive earlier this month and ultimately died of cardiac arrest, they said.
Principal GMC Anantnag, Dr Showkat Gellani, said that septuagenarian man from Sarnal with underlying ailments like pneumonia was admitted to the hospital on May 25. “He died yesterday and his sample was taken while in hospital which came out to be positive today,” he added. he said that body was detained at mortuary and would be handed over as per the Covid-19 protocol.
Meanwhile, Dr Salim Khan, nodal officer for COVID-19 at the Government Medical College Srinagar, told GNS that a 55-years-old man, a resident of Fateh Kadal Srinagar who was shifted to CD Hospital Srinagar from Surgical ICU SMHS on May 18 died of cardiac arrest. “He was shifted to CD hospital as operated case of Exploratory laprotomy with Appendicectomy after testing COVID Positive,” he said, adding,
“ The Patient was kept intubated in SICU SMHS Hospital and then extubated, kept on NIV and then was shifted to CD Hospital. At CD Hospital, patient was improving and was hemodynamically stable. The Patient was maintaining saturation without oxygen.”
However, he said, at 4 pm on Wednesday, the patient developed sudden cardiac arrest. “He was immediately intubated, coupled to ventilator and resuscitated. He developed another cardiac arrest but after that he could not be revived,” Dr Salim Khan added.
With these fatalities, the death toll due to the virus has gone upto 26 in J&K. So far Srinagar district has highest number of the fatalities—7 followed by Anantnag (5), Baramulla and Kulgam with four deaths while Budgam and Jammu have two each and one death each has been reported from Bandipora and Udhampur.
JK reports 162 new positive cases, 854 recover
Meanwhile, 162 more people tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, 38 from Jammu division and 124 from Kashmir division, thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 1921.
Moreover, 21 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, five from Jammu and 16 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), out of 1921 positive cases, 1041 are Active Positive, 854 have recovered and 26 have died.
The Bulletin further said that out of 145162 test results available, 143241 samples have been tested as negative till May 27, 2020.
Additionally, till date 146152 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance which included 31919 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 57 in Hospital Quarantine, 1041 in hospital isolation and 35843 under home surveillance. Besides, 77266 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Bandipora has 145 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 12 Active Positive, 132 recovered (including 01 case recovered today), 01 death; Srinagar has 209 positive cases (including 20 cases reported today) with 76 Active Positive, 126 recovered, 07 deaths; Anantnag district has 282 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today), with 159 Active Positive, 118 recovered (including 05 cases recovered today), 05 deaths; Baramulla has 153 positive cases (including 10 cases reported today) with 51 Active Positive, 98 recovered, 04 deaths; Shopian has 141 positive cases (including 12 cases reported today) with 34 Active Positive, 107 recovered; Kupwara has 192 positive cases (including 26 case reported today) with 122 Active Positive, 70 recovered; Budgam has 78 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today), with 25 Active Positive and 51 recovered cases (including 04 cases recovered today) and 02 deaths; Ganderbal has 31 positive cases with 07 Active cases and 24 recoveries; Kulgam has 255 positive cases (including 27 reported today), with 230 Active Positive and 21 recoveries (including 04 cases recovered today) and 04 deaths and Pulwama reported 49 positive cases (including 21 cases reported today) with 37 active positive, 12 recovered (including 02 cases recovered today).
Similarly, Jammu has 113 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 75 active positive cases and 36 recoveries (including 02 cases recovered today) and 02 deaths; Udhampur has 50 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 27 active positive cases, 22 recovered (including 01 case recovered today) and 01 death; Samba has 32 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 22 Active Positive and 10 recoveries; Rajouri has 15 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 11 active positive cases and 04 recovered; Kathua has 56 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 40 Active positive and 16 recovered (including 01 case recovered today); Kishtwar has 08 positive case with 07 active positive cases and 01 recovered; Ramban has 75 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 72 active positive and 03 recoveries (including 01 recovery today) ; Reasi has 12 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 09 active positive and 03 recovered, Poonch has 23 active positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) while Doda has 02 active positive cases.
The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.
The bulletin has urged upon the public to maintain social distancing 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; Reduce physical contact with others, keep at least 2-meter distance between yourself and others, when you are out. The more space between you and others, the harder it is for virus to spread. Many people with COVID-19 don’t develop or show any symptoms and don’t feel unwell, that is why it is important to practice social distancing at all times to avoid contact with someone who is infected but not showing any symptoms. For practicing social distancing, we should avoid having guests/neighbours visit our homes to reduce the risk of infection transmission.
As a measure for social distancing in public places and workplaces wearing a face cover is compulsory.
The bulletin again explained that early detection of COVID-19 can prevent the spread of disease so we need to be responsible for the well-being of ourselves and everyone around us. “Not disclosing symptoms could put life of individuals and their families at risk. In case of symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing report early. Do not fear, call COVID-19 helpline numbers and seek medical advice”.
Advisory has further exhorted upon the people not to step out of home, unless absolutely necessary. “If you have to move out for unavoidable reasons, ensure that you wear a mask and practice social distancing, personal hygiene and frequent handwashing with soap and water.”
In case of any emergency people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 at their doorsteps by calling on toll-free number 108 while as pregnant women and sick infants can avail free ambulance services by dialling toll-free number 102.
People can also call on toll-free national helpline number 1075; J&K COVID-19 Helpline Numbers 0191- 2549676 (UT level Cell), 0191-2520982, 0191-2674444, 0191-2674115 (For Jammu Division), 0194-2440283 & 0194-2430581 (For Kashmir Division) for support, guidance, and response to health-related queries on Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Public is advised to strictly follow the advisories issued by the government from time to time and rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.
People are also advised to refrain from spreading rumours and pay no heed to them at the same time.