Covid-19 cases are unrelenting in Jammu and Kashmir. One after another grim milestones are passed, almost routinely now. The case tally has already crossed 30000-mark. In fact at the end of the August 20, the total officially declared count stands at 30717. The cases almost doubled in few weeks. Fortunately though, 23225 of the patients have recovered—5233 from Jammu division and 17992 from the Valley.
The fatalities due to the microbe are more troublesome. Already, almost 600 people have succumbed to it. More than 100 people lost the battle to the virus in last week or so alone. From 379 by the end of the last month, the death toll reached 500 in the first 12 days of this month and almost another 100 were added to it in little over a week. The increase in number of the deaths is disturbing for the fact that there has been extended lockdown in most parts of the Valley and Jammu division. The lockdown in the ordinary sense should have helped contain the virus spread but unfortunately, the numbers are growing.
As regards increased mortalities, there is perhaps need to have important changes in treatment and home isolation protocols. The experts have called for it besides the need to improve Infection Prevention Control Mechanism. Also there is a daring need to starting regular and routine health services to prevent a surge in morbidity and mortality due to non COVID cases. These measures brook no delay.
The government recently called a meeting of experts to find reasons for the “alarming” deaths even as J&K, on paper, has 21664 isolation beds, 432 ICU beds, 454 ventilators and 5296 oxygen supported beds. There are 342 ventilators that are in transit and 1630 oxygen outlets are to be installed in next two months, officials say.
The government also plans to establishment more oxygen generation plants in all districts and associated hospitals. Rs 150 crore have already been allocated by the administration for the purpose, as per the official statement. There has been already much delay. All the processes which help in saving lives need to be expedited.
The experts have also suggested the need for home isolation facility and providing pulse oximeters as a measure which would help in controlling the mortalities in the valley. It needed to be implemented along with other recommendations such as declaring micro-level containment.
