By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: COVID-19 third wave is a possibility and our shrewd sustained actions can change its occurrence from a fact to a fiction, states the report of Covid Advisory Committee (CAC), submitted to the government.

The report reads that COVID third wave, if it occurs, could be mild, less severe, or more severe based on interplay of virus, variants, and vaccine.

“Generally speaking, the third wave if not interrupted is more severe than the first or second wave,” the report reads. The report said that COVID third wave could occur within six months of the decline of the second wave and calls for intensive surveillance for the period of June to Dec 2021.

“COVID third wave could occur in any of the seven population groups defined. However, it is speculated that the population segments involved in the first and second wave may be less affected or not affected at all. So children, pregnant women, and the suburban population need to be watched out more closely,” it said.

The report said that a meticulous surveillance protocol to monitor and block COVID third wave has been devised and detailed out.

“It works around several principles namely sequencing, travel advisory policy, COVID appropriate discipline, extended COVID appropriate discipline protocol, serosurveys to evaluate population susceptibility, and aggressive vaccination policy and program,” it said.

The report said that an expert team well-versed with epidemiology and viruses needs to have their heads together weekly to monitor the COVID third wave and raise early alarms in any of the parameters which need attention and or corrections.

“There are indications that pandemic in the Union territory has reached a plateau and will as expected show a downward trend to touch the trough. This should give a sense of relief to society, medical fraternity, and administration who all had been put under stress due to the surge. While so, we have to learn lessons of epidemiology and virology of the pandemics,” it said.

“Pandemics in the past as well as this pandemic have shown repeated waves of a surge of various intensities. This is due to the continued development of variants over time, which come back to infect and ravage through the next susceptible population,” it said.

“Government of Jammu & Kashmir has already framed a committee to devise an action plan for a possible third way in Jammu and Kashmir. The action plan shall focus on the preparedness of health infrastructure, enhancement of testing, treatment protocols, arrangement of essential drugs/logistics, machinery and equipment, oxygen supply, manpower, ramping up COVID hospital beds and Critical care units especially for pediatrics/neonatal age groups, Strengthen COVID care facilities in rural and far-flung areas, Devising additional COVID appropriate behavior and SOP/guidelines,” the report said.

Members of the Committee are Prof. Mohammad S. Khuroo (Chairman), Dr Shakti Gupta (Co-Chairman), Prof. A. G. Ahanger (Member), Prof. Samia Rashid (Member), Dr Yashpal Sharma (Member), Mr. Yasin M Choudhary, IAS (Member), Dr. Mohammad Salim Khan (Member), Dr Muzaffar Jan (Member), Dr. Rahul Gupta (Member), Dr. Khalid (Member) and special invitee Dr Nighat Firdous. (KNO)

By: Sajidah Yousuf

Srinagar: In Jammu and Kashmir, among the total vaccines administered by the government, nearly 99 percent of the doses are of Covishield serum alone.

Official figures reveal that, of total 329,186 vaccines administered in Jammu and Kashmir, at least 98.73 were of Covishield serum while only 1.27 percent were Covaxin jabs.

It reveals that among the total vaccines administered here so far, 32,49,657 were of Covishield serum while only 41,529 were Covaxin shots.

Besides, the figures maintained by the government also states that among the total vaccines of Dose-I administered here, at least 58.44 percent were administered to males, 41.53 percent to females and 0.1 percent was administered to the people belonging to other categories.

The figures reveal that the total vaccines administered includes 16, 04,528 to males, 11,40,251 females and 509 others.

It also states that the government has administered 27, 45,288 vaccines of Dose-I and 5,45,898 shots of Dose-II so far.

According to the figures, the government has administered 24,910 vaccines on Monday at 1146 government designated vaccination sites and two private vaccination sites respectively.

The government figures reveal that in summer capital Srinagar, it has administered at least 2,53,869 vaccines including 2,15,706 of Dose-I and 38,163 of Dose-II at 41 vaccination sites. (KNO)

Srinagar: In a significant decision, the Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture Department, Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with airline carrier Go-Airlines for transportation of perishable horticulture and agricultural produce to various destinations across the country.

The MoU was signed in presence of Principal Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Horticulture departments, Navin Kumar Choudhary at the Civil Secretariat here.

Speaking on the occasion, the Principal Secretary said that this significant step will empower the fruit growers of Jammu and Kashmir and will increase their income as well as boost the rural economy. He added that it will also address the transportation hiccups for the horticulture produce, especially the highly perishable items like Cherry, Plum, Apricots etc.

Navin Choudhary further added that the government is also considering to provide some sort of financial support to fruit growers who will utilise this facility for transportation of horticulture and agricultural yield to outside J&K as well as the facility of refrigerated vans for which the decision could be taken by the government in couple of days.

Under this MoU, the airline will charge Rs. 24, Rs. 34, Rs. 47, Rs. 48 and Rs.50 for transportation of perishable fruit produce from Jammu and Srinagar to Delhi, Mumbai/Pune, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru respectively.

The growers can directly approach the airline and transport their produce at the said rates.

Pertinently, the government had invited bids from airlines regarding this and the Go-Airlines was selected as it offered lowest rates per Kg for transportation of perishable fruit produce.

Come up with new policy within 48 hrs: LG

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: Moved by the six-year-old girl’s video message to Prime Minister Narendera Modi where she complains of huge burden of home work through Zoom Classes, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while taking serious note of the message Monday directed the School Education Department to come out with a policy in 48 hours to ease the burden of homework of the minor students.

The directives by the government were made following a video of a minor kid appealing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ease the burden of homework of the minor school kids.

Taking to the micro-blogging site, Sinha while reacting to the video said, “Very adorable complaint, have directed the school education department to come out with a policy within 48 hours to lighten burden of homework on school kids.”

“Childhood innocence is gift of God and their days should be lively, full of joy and bliss,” Sinha said. (KNO)

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: The Government Medical College (GMC) has issued a list of shortlisted candidates for various posts which includes staff nurse, lab technician and anesthesia technician that allegedly reflects “major discrepancies” as names of aspirants have appeared twice in the same list raising many eye-brows.

However, several aspirants who have applied for these posts alleged that there are major discrepancies in the list as some names have appeared twice and even some have appeared thrice in the list.

They also alleged that the list hasn’t been framed separately for separate posts and there is a mix up of categories as well with which, it is difficult to understand how many candidates have been selected under the special category or in general category.

They further added that marks shown in the list are also shown in different way as some candidates have marks just out of 700 and some have out of 2900.

Candidates appealed to authorities to come with a separate list for one post and the list must be category wise as well besides that marks of the candidates must be also mentioned in a proper way so that doubts of the candidates will get clear.

Principal GMC Srinagar Dr Samia Rashid said that some names have appeared twice as some candidates have applied for two and even some have applied for three posts.

“The list is tentative and the final list will be published after proper verification of the documents of the candidates,” she said. “She added that verification will be done on June 1.”

It is pertinent to mention that the candidates who will get selected will have to perform their duties at 500 bedded temporary Covid hospital Srinagar that was constructed by DRDO. (KNO)

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha visited GoC Chinar Corps, Lt. General, DP Pandey at his residence in Srinagar on Monday.

The Lt Governor paid tribute to his father in law, Colonel Panjab Singh (Retd.), Vir Chakra, who passed away last week due to covid in Chandigarh. He also expressed his condolences with the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor recalled the proud legacy of Col Panjab Singh (Retd.) and how he had heroically defended Poonch during the 1971 war.

Sinagar: The security forces on Monday averted a major tragedy by detecting and defusing two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at separate places in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Official sources said that inputs were received that militants were planning to carry out IED attacks in Awantipora in Pulwama. “Acting swiftly, security forces detected an IED in an orchard in village Panzgam in Pulwama on Monday morning,” they said.

“A Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was immediately called,” they said, adding the IED was later defused without causing any damage or loss to life.

They said another IED was also detected and defused in Awantipora, Pulwama. “These areas have been cordoned off and investigations have been initiated to identify and nab the militants responsible for planting the IEDs,” they added. (UNI)