New Delhi: India’s infection caseload spiked to 2.43 crore cases after 3.26 lakh cases were recorded in over 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health reported on Saturday.

Up to 3,980 people have lost their lives during the same time frame, taking the overall death toll to 2,66,207.

The country presently has 36,73,802 active cases at 15.07 per cent with as many as 3,53,299 people being discharged in a single day. With this, the total number of recoveries have spiked to 2,04,32,898 at 83.83 per cent.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the total number of tests done during the previous day 16,93,093.

Meanwhile, more than 18 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the country till Friday, according to the Health Ministry.

Maharashtra reported 39,923 new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases and 695 deaths, followed by Kerala (34,694), Karnataka (41,779), Tamil Nadu (31,892), Andhra Pradesh (22,018), West Bengal (20,839), Uttar Pradesh (15,747) and Delhi (8,506) in the past 24 hours.

The six most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (5,309,215), Karnataka (2,130,267), Kerala (2,085,583), Uttar Pradesh (1,596,727), Tamil Nadu (1,531,377), Andhra Pradesh (1,388,803), and Delhi (1,380,981).

India has started deploying Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, making it the first foreign-made shot to be used in the country. The single-dose variant Sputnik Light will cost ₹ 995.40 including tax for a shot, according to Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, which is manufacturing the vaccines in India.

Globally, as of 14 May 2021, there have been 160,813,869 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3,339,002 deaths, reported to WHO.

The US remains the worst-hit country with 33,663,187, followed by India, Brazil, France and Turkey. However, in the past seven days, India has added the highest number of fresh cases at 2,560,835, followed by Brazil (427,804) and the US (256,718).

Srinagar:  Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday said official figures of corona virus deaths are being ‘underestimated’ in the valley.

The official figures of Covid-19 deaths are an underestimate as many deaths due to the virus go unreported in the valley, said DAK president and influenza expert Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan in a statement Saturday afternoon.

‘The reported death toll is an undercount and only provides a snapshot of the true toll virus has taken,’ he said.

Dr Hassan said only those deaths make it to the official count that have been confirmed as Covid-19 through RT-PCR testing. ‘But the test can miss more than 30 per cent of positive cases,’ he said.

‘We see many patients who test negative on RT-PCR test, but show CT features consistent with Covid-19 disease, but they are not reported,’ Dr Hassan said, adding that while elderly people have the highest rates for hospitalisation and death, many are not tested for Covid in hospitals.

‘Older people don’t develop typical Covid symptoms. In them, feeling weak or confused may be the only sign of having the infection,’ he said.

‘When patients lack classic signs, health professionals are less likely to think of the diagnosis. This means many patients die undiagnosed,’ he added.

The DAK president said that many Covid deaths are hidden among other diseases and alleged that many patients with heart or lung disease die of Covid, but their death is attributed to their underlying condition.

Dr Nisar said that many people with Covid symptoms don’t get tested for the virus because of the fear of stigma and quarantine of family members.

‘Social stigma makes people hide their illness and keep them away from seeking health care,’ he said.

He said that people fear that if they die of Covid-19, they will not get the decent burial and only few will come to their funeral. ‘As a result, people are choosing to die at home, unrecorded,’ he said.

‘Accurate data is vitally important for appropriate response which is key to mitigate further disaster,’ he said adding to deal with the problem, we must understand how bad it is.

‘Poor quality data equals poor decision which in turn leads to lost opportunity to improve population health in a crisis. Without accurate tallies, response won’t be enough to defeat the outbreak,’ said Dr Nisar.

Srinagar: Director Institute of Perception Studies and Rate The Debate New Delhi, Dr Kota Neelima has urged the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha to provide free Covid-19 treatment for Media persons and their immediate families in private and government hospitals.

Dr Kota has written a letter to LG Sinha, suggesting several measures and schemes to help media persons, who are also at the forefront, to fight the deadly Covid-19.

“COVID-19 has claimed 219 lives of Media Persons across India – on an average 36 journalists had been killed per 10 days due to the pandemic during the second wave. As you are aware, several of these deaths were caused due to exposure to the virus in the line of duty of the journalists,” reads the letter.

It reads that the country’s citizens and the governments have benefitted from the news of the pandemic. “Even today, hundreds of journalists are on the field – reporting about COVID-19 wards in hospitals, families of COVID-19 patients, cremation grounds and other hotspots.”

“Media Persons are always prepared to cover news, go to the spot and get the story. A journalist will not hold back from reporting about the plight of a COVID-19 patient due to personal risk.”

Dr Kota in her letter has suggested that media persons should be given free COVID-19 treatment in government and private, as the treatment requires several days of hospitalisation, which is beyond the scope of most journalists.

“The treatment costs of Media Persons and their immediate families must be borne by the Government.”

She has suggested that journalists of all age groups be provided the facility to walk into any vaccination centre and get the vaccine, as and when available. “Compensation in the form ex-gratia or education fees or employment support (as applicable) to the families of journalists who have succumbed to COVID-19.”

She has also suggested that there should be no differentiation and all support and schemes must be applicable to journalists who are Accredited and Non-Accredited, Employed and Free-lance, Print, TV and Digital, Rural and Urban, Photo and Video Journalists, Technicians and Assistants.

“My organization, the Institute of Perception Studies, New Delhi, has been following each case of Journalist Deaths across India, due to COVID-19. We have a database of verified names and details for every state in India. I offer the free services of my Institute to design solutions and implement these measures to save lives of Media Persons,” reads the letter.

“l hope you will consider these urgent suggestions. I have complete confidence that you and your government will support journalists in these times of extreme distress for the nation and for every individual. News is essential to fight COVID-19,” the letter further reads. (KNO)

Srinagar: In a bid to prevent the Coronavirus from spreading, the government on Saturday extended the Corona Curfew across Jammu and Kashmir till May 24, 2021.

Corona Curfew was last extended by the government on May 09, 2021 till May 17, 2021 in all the 20 districts of J&K, where 3677 new positive cases and 63 deaths have been reported during the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said Saturday evening.

He said Corona curfew, which was imposed in all the 20 districts in the UT in view of the surge in the COVID positive cases and deaths, has been extended till 0700 hrs on May 24. The restrictions were to end on Monday at 0700 hrs, he said.

The curfew restrictions will be strict except for a few essential services, he said.

Meanwhile, 3677 new positive cases have been reported during the past 24 hours. Out of these 1728 are from Jammu Division and 1949 from Kashmir Division.

However, 4140 more COVID-19 patients have recovered, 1086 from Jammu Division and 3054 from Kashmir Division, he said.

Also, 63 COVID-19 deaths have been reported, 37 from Jammu Division and 26 from Kashmir Division during this period, he added.

Srinagar again witnessed surge in the positive cases. As against over 300 yesterday, it was over 400 on Saturday. 

Srinagar: The strict curfew continued to remain in place for the 16th straight day in Srinagar and other districts of Jammu and Kashmir in order to prevent the deadly virus from spreading.

However, police said that 137 persons were arrested while 70 FIRs were lodged and also Rs 128,480 fine was realized from the norm violators.

Witnesses said that police and paramilitary troopers have been deployed in strength on roads across Srinagar.

They said the roads have been blocked at several places, saying that concertina wires have been erected on main roads, thus halted the vehicular movement.

The restrictions continued to remain in place in Jammu and Kashmir since April 29 evening to prevent the virus from spreading. The government has announced Corona Curfew across the Union Territory till May 17.

Meanwhile, during the last 24 hours, Police has arrested 137 persons, lodged 70 FIRs and also realized fine to the tune of Rs 128,480 from 874 people for violating the guidelines/rules throughout Kashmir valley.

“Besides, six vehicles were also seized in Bandipora for violating guidelines and restrictions,” police spokesman said.

In Ganderbal, Police party led by SHO Police Station Safapora along with Executive Magistrate Lar while enforcing restrictions in Safapora area found 12 shopkeepers violating the guidelines issued by the district administration.  Accordingly all the 12 shops were sealed on spot.

The special drive against the violators of Covid-19 guidelines and rules continued throughout all the districts of Kashmir Valley to ensure that people adhere to SOPs and guidelines envisaged by the government to curb COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, police urged people to cooperate in containing the spread of Coronavirus by following the SOPs, guidelines and protocols for the safety of the people. “The special drive shall remain continue throughout the districts of Kashmir Valley to strengthen the safety measures,” police said. (KNO)

IGP says won’t allow anyone to disturb peace in Kashmir

Srinagar: At least twenty persons have been arrested in connection with pro-Palestine protest amid corona curfew here in Srinagar.

Official sources said that police have arrested these persons from several places of Srinagar.

As per reports quoting Gaza’s health ministry, at least 122 Palestinians, including 31 children, have been killed and more than 900 wounded in Israeli action since the latest round of violence began.

A police spokesman later said in Srinagar 20 individuals were arrested in connection with violation of “corona curfew”.

“It is pertinent to mention here that two protests were held in Padshahi Bagh and Koker Bazar areas of Srinagar on Friday on Palestine issue,” the spokesman said, adding, “The individuals were identified on the basis of photography and videography done during the protests.”

Srinagar Police, he said, have appealed to the general public to strictly follow the COVID curfew and cooperate with police during this period.

Meanwhile the IGP Kashmir reiterated that Police was “keeping a very close watch on elements who are attempting to leverage the unfortunate situation in Palestine to disturb public peace and order in the Kashmir valley.”

“We are a professional force and are sensitive to public anguish. But J&K police has a legal responsibility to ensure law and order as well. It, however, wouldn’t allow cynical encashment of the public anger to trigger violence, lawlessness and disorder on Kashmir streets,” he said.

“Expressing opinion is a freedom but engineering and inciting violence on streets is unlawful. All irresponsible social media comments that results in actual violence and breaking of law including Covid protocol will attract legal action.” He said people are urged to cooperate. (GNS)

Srinagar:  To further strengthen the patient care facilities in Srinagar, the District Administration, Srinagar is setting up five Model Primary Health Centers termed as STAR PHCs at different locations in the district, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Mohammed Aijaz Asad said on Saturday.

Asad visited different primary level Health care centres in Srinagar today and was accompanied by Joint Director Planning Mohammad Yaseen, Chief Medical Officer Srinagar, Dr Jameel and other senior officers conducted inspection of various health institutions and enquired about facilities available and additional support required for extending best possible healthcare services to patients particularly in wake of present situation arisen due to 2nd wave of Covid-19.

The DC said that 5 Primary Health Centers including at Batamaloo, Khonmoh, Lasjan, Sangam and Nishat are being upgraded to Model PHCs.

He said each Model PHC will have minimum 25-30 bed capacity with oxygen support system meeting present requirements of Covid-19.

The DC directed the CMO Srinagar to take up the necessary measures in this regard so that all 5 designated Star PHCs start functioning with upgraded infrastructure at an earliest.

Executive Engineer ME Department has been asked to immediately start work on installation of Oxygen pipes.

The DC said administration has chosen to upgrade existing infrastructure to ensure early operationalization of these Model PHCs to make better healthcare facilities available to patients in the district.

He also said that the objective of setting up of Star PHCs is to add additional infrastructure support to various health institutions in the district to ensure better healthcare at nearest possible health facilities so that unnecessary rush to tertiary care hospitals is reduced.

Srinagar: President of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I), Sheikh Ashiq on Saturday welcomed the government’s decision of providing relief among the tourism players.

However, he said that all those who are daily earners in all sectors should be included in the list of those who are being provided relief in wake of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the announcement of the relief package is welcome but all the people who are daily earners in all sectors should be part of this package.

“Be it transporters, vendors, small time shopkeepers, artisans and weavers registered with the handicrafts department should be part of the relief package,” he said.

“We expect the Lieutenant Governor to increase the amount of financial assistance and free ration to all people who are below poverty line,” he said.

Weatherman predicts more rains in next 48 hours

Srinagar:  The parts of Kashmir Valley including Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday evening received fresh rainfall while a local Meteorological department here has predicted isolated thundershowers, lightening, hail and dusty storm for the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, heavy hailstorm during the past 24 hours has badly damaged fruit and vegetable crops in the Kashmir valley, particularly north Kashmir.

A MeT department spokesman Saturday evening that scattered light rain, thunderstorm and hail would occur in the Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. Isolated light rain and hail during the subsequent 48 hours, he forecasted.

He warned of isolated thundershowers, lightening, hail and 3o km to 40 km per hour dusty storm continued for the next 24 hours.

After witnessing above normal maximum temperature due to bright sunshine during the day, rain lash most parts in the Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, where the minimum temperature was below normal.

Though most people remained indoor due to Corona curfew, those who had ventured out were taken by surprise in the evening due to heavy rain and hail in the valley. Security forces and police personnel, deployed to strictly implement the curfew restrictions, were seen taking shelter under fly-over and other places.

A number of roads in the uptown were water-lodged due to heavy rain and hailstorm for more than ten minutes this evening after sunshine during the day when the maximum temperature was 24 degree, slightly above normal in Srinagar. However, the minimum temperature was 9.8 degree, 0.8 notch below normal in the city.

Met department spokesman said the sky would be partly to generally cloudy in Srinagar during the next 24 hours and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 25 degree and 11 degree respectively.

He said barring world famed health resort of Pahalgam, the minimum temperature elsewhere in the valley was below normal. At Pahalgam it was 5.4 degree, 0.3 degree above normal. However, at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg the minimum temperature was 2 degree, 3.5 notches below normal while the maximum temperature there was 13.5 degree, 1.2 notch below normal. (UNI)

815 persons inoculated in last three days in Valley

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: Amid the spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths across Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmir division is facing acute shortage of Covishield vaccine.

The official figures available has stated that only 815 persons have been vaccinated across the Valley in the last three days while not a single soul has been inoculated in seven districts of Kashmir today.

Sources within the health department said that there is a shortage of Covishield vaccine in almost every tertiary health care facility across Kashmir.

They said those who have taken the first dose of vaccine around two months before are waiting to get the second jab of the vaccine.

People questioning the policy of the government said that on one hand they have been requesting to follow Covid appropriate behavior and get vaccinated at the earliest but on the other hand there is a dearth of vaccines.

Mohammad Akbar, a resident of Pulwama said that he has taken the first dose of Covishield vaccine around two months before and since then he has been waiting to get the second dose.

“Whenever I contact the authorities, they say as of now no vaccines are available,” he said.

People urged the authorities to make vaccines available at the earliest.

State Immunization Officer, Dr. Shahid Hussain admitted the shortage of Covishield, saying that the vaccine will be available shortly.

He said that he has taken the issue with the serum Institute today as well and vaccines will be available shortly.

Pertinently, only 208 persons have been inoculated across Kashmir division during the last two days while around 20,000 people have been vaccinated in Jammu division during the last 48 hours.

Meanwhile, only 607 persons were vaccinated across Kashmir Valley on Saturday. Official data revealed that not a single person was vaccinated in seven out of 10 districts of Kashmir.

The government data shows that no person was vaccinated in Srinagar, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Kulgam, Anantnag and Pulwama.

According to the statistics, 504 persons above 45 years of age were vaccinated in the region. Of them, 211 were inoculated in Shopian, 30 in Baramulla and 263 in Ganderbal district, the data reveals.

Among 14 healthcare workers inoculated in Kashmir, nine were administered doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Baramulla, two in Shopian and three in Ganderbal.

Apart from citizens above 45 years of age and healthcare workers, 89 frontline workers were administered COVID vaccines in the region.

Of them, 35 were from Shopian, one from Baramulla and 53 from Ganderbal, the status of vaccination reveals.

So far, 1335758 persons have been vaccinated in different health institutions of Kashmir region.

Of which, 1027897 are citizens above 45 years, 238883 are frontline workers and 68978 are healthcare workers.

According to data, 61.14 per cent of the population above 45 years of age were vaccinated in Kashmir till date.

It is pertinent to mention that J&K administration has repeatedly claimed that there is no shortage of COVID-19 vaccines in the Union Territory. (KNO)