From May 1 to May 18, 963 lives were lost to coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir. On May 17, Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest ever death toll of 73 fatalities in a single day. In the last one week alone, 446 persons were claimed as victims by the pestilence in J&K.
In the last 24 hours as on Monday last, the daily count of covid-related deaths in India touched a new high, with 4,329 deaths being reported from across the country. That overtook the count of 4,205 deaths recorded a week earlier on May 11.
Since the start of this month, 66,866 people are reported to have died because of Covid-19, making it the deadliest month during the pandemic. Last month was the worst month for India in terms of number of infections. Close to 70 lakh infections had been detected during that month. But its impact on mortality is being felt only now. In April, close to 49,000 fatalities had been recorded in India.
As per experts, the death curve usually has a two-week lag and it is expected that the death count would also begin to come down in a few days’ time in India. In the period, however, it is possible that this count goes up further, because lots of states are reporting deaths that happened a few days to a couple of weeks earlier.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole also stated that there are chances that mortality rate may remain the same or increase in the next few days. The rising trend of deaths due to covid-19 is concerning and to arrest it requires immediate corrective measures.
As has been underlined by the Financial Commissioner in context with GMC Jammu, the senior faculty members of the concerned departments of all institutions should increase their presence by making frequent rounds of wards, where the COVID positive patients are admitted, so that such patients are properly looked after and treated, which will help in reducing the mortality.
Unfortunately in India, as is the case with many developing countries, death recording, as well as analysis of the cause of deaths, is poor. That comes in the way of ascertaining accurately the mortality impact of the disease.
However, of late, the country’s health system has come up with evidence-based guidelines that assisted in bringing in a semblance of uniformity in-patient care. The J & K government needs to follow them and also enhance testing modalities and guidance on isolation and quarantine. All other measures, already known, should be taken to reduce the fatalities.
