By: Bhat Imran/Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar: At least 53 students and four faculty members of different schools in Kashmir division tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday that prompted the authorities to close seven schools across the region temporarily.
According to KNO among the 51 students that tested positive for COVID-19 includes 14 students from a Government High School Katsoo Srigufwara in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, 36 students of Noorani Public School in Khull area of Damhal Hanjipora of Kulgam district and one student of Government Higher Secondary School Kaloosa Bandipora.
Meanwhile, three teachers and a class IV employee of the School Education Department were also tested positive for Coronavirus on Wednesday.
Block Medical Officer (BMO) Srigufwara, Dr Arshid Tak confirmed to the news agency—KNO that 14 students of Govt High School Katsoo Srigufwara were tested positive for Covid-19.
The Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) of the area Abdul Rashid said that the administration including Tehsildar has decided to keep school closed for one week.
Likewise, at least 36 students and a 60-year-old parent of one of the students were also tested COVID-19 positive at Noorani Public School in Khull area of Damhal Hanjipora in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Block Medical Officer (BMO) DH Pora Dr. Shugufta Salam said that at least 37 COVID-19 positive cases have been detected from this school including primary contact of students in mass and random sampling. “Testing for all the contacts will be undertaken in due course of time.”
She said COVID-19 tests were conducted for 390 individuals out of which 37 were tested positive for COVID-19.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kulgam, Mohammad Ashraf Rather told KNO that the school will remain closed for at least a week.
Similarly, authorities in Bandipora district also ordered closure of government Higher Secondary School in Kaloosa locality after its one teacher and a student were tested positive for COVID-19.
The officials of the district confirmed it with KNO that a teacher and the student of 11th standard were tested positive for Covid-19 at government higher secondary school Kaloosa after the health department had collected samples of some teachers and students a few days ago.
The official said that the school would remain closed for the next three days as a precautionary measure.
In the meantime, authorities in central Kashmir’s Budgam district ordered closure of three educational establishments for at least 5 days following the outbreak of COVID-19 among teachers and two students.
SDM Chadoora said, “Testing for all the contacts will be undertaken in due course of time.”
He also said that the schools that were closed today include Government High School Sogam, Government High School Badipora and Government Girls Higher Secondary School Budgam.
The officials at the School Education Department also said that at least two staff members of Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Kothibagh Srinagar were tested positive for Coronavirus on Wednesday.
In this regard, officials of the School Education Department said that it has decided to close the institution till Saturday.
The officials said that the school will resume the academics from Monday.
Earlier, some staff and students of several other schools in Jammu and Kashmir were also tested positive for the virus previously following the reopening of schools here.
J&K reports 373 new cases, 4 more deaths
Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases recorded in a single day this year hit a new record as Jammu and Kashmir reported 373 fresh infections in the last 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday.
Among the fresh cases, they said, Jammu division reported 73 cases and Kashmir 300, taking the J&K’s overall infection count to 130960.
Also, four deaths were reported, one from Jammu division and three from Kashmir Valley, taking the total toll to 1994—736 in Jammu region and 1258 in Kashmir.
This is for the third time that single day cases breached 300-mark in Jammu and Kashmir. Also, it was for the sixteenth consecutive day that more than 100 cases were reported on a single day in J&K. In all, nearly around 3200 cases were added to the tally during the time, they said.
Providing district wise details, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 159 cases, Baramulla 63,
Budgam 26, Pulwama 5, Kupwara 11, Anantnag 8, Bandipora 7, Ganderbal 8, Kulgam 12, Shopian 1, Jammu 45, Udhampur 9, Rajouri 2, Doda 0, Kathua 11, Samba 3, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 3, Ramban 0 and Reasi 0.
A number of these cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratories of SKIMS Soura, CD hospital and GMC Anantnag.
The SKIMS cases include include two males (39, 06) from Chattabugh, male (30) from Hajibagh, female (15) from Badipora, male (35) from Hardu Latina Beerwah, male (37) from Ms Zabigul, female (32) from Sanoor Kalipora Soibugh Budgam, female (32) from Umerabad Peerbagh, male (38) from Wazabagh Hyderpora, female (52) from Rawalpora, male (35) and female (36) from Lalbazar, female (56) from Nowgam, two males (11, 20) from Ninenty, male (32) from Skims, male (50) and female (25) from Rainawari, male (55) from Indranagar, male (32) from Zaldagar, male (70) from Khajabagh, female (75) from Peerbagh, female (75) from Lalbazar, male (60) from Nowshera, male (52) from HMT, female (65) from Badamwari, male (65) from Tangpora, male (83) from Gupkar Road Srinagar, male (42) from 132 battalion CRPF Sanat Nagar Srg, two males (44, 37) from 29 battalion CRPF Rawalpora Srinagar, male (27) from Yangoora Ganderbal, male (38) from Bandipora, male (60) and female (55) from Hajin Bandipora and male (71) from Ganika Doda.
The CD cases include female (50) from Bemina, female (50) from Tral, female (52) from Kangan, male (70) from Gangoo, female (18) from Wuyan, two females (36, 13) from Kadlabal Pampore, two females (10, 12) from Ratnipora, three males (44, 08, 42) from BB Cantt Srg, two males (63, 16) and two females (25, 23) from Noorbagh, male (15) from Bemina, male (32) from Kawdara, female (60) from Khrew, female (14) from Sanatnagar, male (27) from Karan Nagar, male (28) from Barbarshah, male (70) from Srinagar, female (NA) from Nawakadal, male (56) and female (18) from Wanabal Rawalpora, male (36) from Budgam, male (68) and female (67) from Nishat, two males (22, 54) and female (27) from HMT Srg, male (40) from Pattan Singpora, male (25) from Pulwama, female (29) from Harwan, male (53) from Shalimar, male (75) from Pattan.
The GMC Anantnag cases include female (25) and male (60) from Bonabazar, male (65) from Dagapora, male (14) from Nadigam, male (29) from Shopian, female (30) from Ashajipora, male (39) from Mirbazar.
Moreover, they said, 131 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals—26 from Jammu Division and 105 from Kashmir Division. There are 2531 covid-19 active cases—661 in Jammu division and 1870 in Kashmir. 126435 people have recovered so far in the J&K, they added.
