Precious Kashmir

629 violators fined, 46 FIRs registered, 81 arrested: Police

Jammu & Kashmir

04/05/2021

Covid-19 Lockdown violations

Srinagar: In view of the record surge in daily cases across the Valley, police has enhanced the efforts to implement the Covid-19 guidelines/SOPs/restrictions strictly throughout the valley.

“During last 24 hours, Police has arrested 81 persons, lodged 46 FIRs and also realized fine to the tune of ₹93,620/- from 629 people for violating the guidelines/rules throughout Kashmir valley. Besides, 03 vehicles were also seized in Budgam for violating guidelines/restrictions,” a police spokesman said.

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

DC Srinagar visits Covid care centres

City

Precious Kashmir

04/05/2021

Srinagar: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad Monday visited Covid Wellness Center at Haj House Bemina and Unani Hospital, Hazratbal to take stock of arrangements made available at these Centers.

During the visit, the DC was informed that 125 beds have been kept ready at Haj House Bemina and 40 beds at Unani Hospital Hazratbal to accommodate Covid-19 positive cases for Isolation if required.

The DC directed the concerned to ensure all requisite facilities/arrangements are available at these centers for patients. He also asked the concerned authorities to maintain cleanliness in and around these Centers besides conduct sanitization process.

He also directed the PDD and PHE authorities to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply to these centres.

The DC said that the district Administration is taking all efforts to ensure well equipped health facilities to deal with any exigent situation. He reiterated that people should strictly adhere to Covid-19 SOPs and other guidelines to break the chain of infection to save precious human lives.

The DC during the visit was accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dr Syed Hanief Balkhi, CMO Srinagar and other concerned officers.

IPL 2021: Three members of CSK contingent test Covid-19 positive

Sports

United News Of India

04/05/2021

New Delhi: Three members of the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL contingent – chief executive officer (CEO) K Viswanathan, bowling coach L Balaji and a bus cleaner – have tested positive for Covid-19.

The rest of the CSK group, which is currently in Delhi, has tested negative. The results emerged after the latest round of testing on Sunday.

According to ESPNcricinfo report, Viswanathan, Balaji and the member of the maintenance staff took a fresh test on Monday morning to rule out the possibility of a false positive.

If they test positive again, they would need to spend 10 days in a designated isolation facility outside the team bubble and return two negative tests before re-entering.

The news broke soon after the BCCI rescheduled Monday’s game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore as two KKR players – Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier – tested positive.

‘Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier were found to be positive in the third round of testing in the last four days. All other team members have tested negative for COVID-19,’ the IPL said in a statement.

Both, Chakravarthy and Warrier have been isolated and the rest of the KKR contingent has returned negative reports for now.

‘The Medical Team is in continuous touch with the duo and are monitoring their health. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knight Riders have now moved towards a daily testing routine to identify any other possible cases and treat them at the earliest,’ the statement further said.

‘The Medical Team is also determining the close and casual contacts of the two positive cases during the 48 hours prior to collection of the sample that returned the positive test results,’ it added.

According to IPL’s Standard Operating Procedure for COVID-19 management, any close contact of an infected person has to isolate for six days and return three negative tests on days 1, 3 and 6.

Additionally, a few groundsmen at Delhi’s Kotla Stadium, have also tested positive for the virus. However, Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) chief Rohan Jaitley said ‘none of the groundsmen on duty’ are among them.

India on Monday reported 3,68,147 new cases of COVID-19 during the past 24 hours, pushing the country caseload to 1,99,25,604, while the death toll mounted to 2,18,959 with 3,417 more fatalities.

Another Casualty: Mental Health

Edit
Oped

Precious Kashmir

03/05/2021

After the first wave peaked in September last, it took about six months for cases to rise from about 6 million to cross 12 million by the end of March in India. In last month alone, India reported more than 6.6 million cases as the cumulative total rose to 18.76 million. Deaths due to the virus are also rising to record limits daily with 3,689 fatalities, highest in a single day logged in the last 24 hours as per the Health Ministry data on Sunday. Jammu and Kashmir also recorded 44662 infections and 285 fatalities in April. In the first two days of May, 88 people have succumbed to the virus, taking the official fatality count so far to 2370. These figures suggest that contagion is only raging on and shows no signs of relenting.

This situation amid constant struggle for many to find hospital beds, medicines and oxygen are affecting the mental well-being of people, as per several mental health experts. The mental health situation, as per them is much worse now than last year during the first Covid-19 wave.

The present wave has been much more relentless and took many by surprise because it came just as people felt things were returning to normal. A number of people also feel culpable for not being able to support those around them adequately while a large population is yet to recover from fiscal and personal losses of last year. Together, these factors are gravely impacting people’s confidence, and resilience to cope with situations. The present round of the pandemic is also bound to impact the vulnerable sections more since they have much less access to mental health professionals.

The World Health Organization (WHO) two years ago estimated that 7.5% of Indians were affected by mental health disorders. This number will likely go up significantly because of the contemporary situation.

Last month, the Divisional Administration in Kashmir started tele–Psychiatric and Psychological services to dispel off stress, fear and anxiety among the people during the ongoing pandemic.

The purpose of the counselling, as per official statement, is to illuminate the people currently in home situation, guide about precautions, maintaining Covid behaviour and precautions besides assisting the general public in living a healthy life during the pandemic.

It is a welcome development but needs to be ensured. Rather more needs to be done to address the grave situation. The failure threatens to claim a heavy toll when the government has been cornered and questioned for being under-prepared to tackle a health crisis.

Second Covid wave rips Kashmir apart; positives, presumed positives swell

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

03/05/2021

Second Covid wave rips Kashmir apart; positives, presumed positives swell

Srinagar: The second wave of COVID-19 has ripped across Kashmir as thousands are testing positive daily and mortality rate too has increased.
Experts had sounded an alert about the present wave well in advance. On February 18, Head of Department at Chest Disease Hospital Dr Naveed Nazir had said that there are indications of the second wave of Covid-19 and there is need to remain cautious. At that point of time he had urged the people that whosoever gets the opportunity, should get Covid vaccine and take precautions. However, many people didn’t take his advice seriously.
A medico while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “No heed was paid towards the warnings that were sounded well in advance. Had the precautions been taken situation would not have deteriorated.”
He said, “At present we were witnessing a huge rush of patients in the hospitals. It appears that the system can crumble if the cases keep on increasing at the same pace. There are many people who have tested positive and are under home isolation. Many have been presumed positive as they were in close contact with the prime positive cases. Situation is grim.”
According to the latest guidelines Rapid Action Test is not an authentic test to declare any patient negative or positive. Once a patient is declared positive he or she must be tested after 10-days of completion of home quarantine and after that he must undergo RTPCR test for confirmation of result. The instructions have been passed to all the medical officers not to test any positive patient before 10-days.
Another medico said, “Some studies have revealed that rapid action tests are missing the new variant and the results are varying. The RTPCR is a complete test. We are in no position to take any chances.”
He said, “The people who have taken vaccination seem to be better protected. Even if they are catching COVID they are not developing severe complications and it’s a good sign. The inoculation drive has been thrown open for all the adults and within few days more and more people will get vaccinated. This will help us to fight the Covid in a better way.”
Another expert said, “Testing holds the key. The RTPCR is an authentic test. Positive means positive and negative means negative. There have been instances of false positives and negatives in RAT tests. At present we are not in a position to assume things we have to be sure. People who are under home isolation need not worry if they remain fine for 10-days, the virus will automatically die. However, patients within home isolation need to keep a check on their oxygen level it should not fall below 90.”

PM reviews usage of gaseous oxygen for medical purposes

Front

Indo Asian News Service

03/05/2021

PM reviews usage of gaseous oxygen for medical purposes

New Delhi: In line with his direction of exploring innovative ways to ramp up supply and availability of Oxygen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the usage of gaseous oxygen.

Prime Minister Modi tweeted, “Took stock of the usage of gaseous oxygen produced by industry, for medical purposes, with adjacent temporary hospitals.”

Many industries like steel plants, refineries with petrochemical units, industries using rich combustion process and power plants have oxygen plants which produce gaseous oxygen which can be tapped for medical use.

The strategy being used is to identify industrial units which produce gaseous oxygen of requisite purity, shortlist those which are closer to cities or dense areas or demand centres and establish temporary Covid care centres with oxygenated beds near that source.

A pilot for five such facilities had already been initiated and there is good progress on this. This is being accomplished through Public Sector Units or private industries operating the plant and co-ordination of centre and state governments.

It is expected that around 10,000 oxygenated beds can be made available in a short period of time by making temporary hospitals near such plants.

State governments are being encouraged to set up more such facilities with oxygenated beds to deal with the pandemic.

The Prime Minister also reviewed progress on setting up of PSA plants.

When the Prime Minister was informed that around 1,500 PSA plants are in the process of being set up through contribution of PM CARES, PSUs and others, Modi directed officials to ensure speedy completion of these plants.

Principal Secretary to PM, Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary Road Transport and Highways and other senior officials participated in the meeting.

The meeting was held at a time when there is hue and cry across the country due to shortage of oxygen– a life-saving gas.

JK records 3571 Covid cases, 41 deaths

Front

Precious Kashmir

03/05/2021

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday recorded 3571 new Covid cases and also reported 41 deaths.

Official said of 3571 new positive cases in J&K, 1150 were reported from Jammu division and 2421 from Kashmir. The total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 183486.

Besides, J&K also recorded 41 Covid deaths today. Of them 28 were reported from Jammu region and 13 from Valley.

Moreover, 1453 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals including 605 from Jammu Division and 848 from Kashmir Division.

According to the daily Media Bulletin, out of 183486 positive cases, 32421 are active positive, 148695 have recovered and 2370have died; 946 in Jammu division and 1424 in Kashmir division.

The number of active cases is now 32,421 out of which 11,690 are from the Jammu division and 20,731 from the Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 7348647 test results available, 7165161 samples have been tested as negative till May 2.

Till date 1822566 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 94636 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 32421 in isolation and 120039 in home surveillance.

Besides, 1573100 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Govt constitutes CMG to monitor Covid situation

Front

Precious Kashmir

03/05/2021

Srinagar: The government constituted a five-member Crisis Management Group (CMG) to monitor the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation and take preventive, control and mitigating measures, an official spokesman said on Sunday.

There were 3571 new positive cases of Coronavirus — 1150 from Jammu division and 2421 from Kashmir division– reported on Sunday . Also 41 COVID-19 deaths have been reported.

The five-member CMG will consist of the Chief Secretary as Chairman, and FC (Finance), FC (Health), PS (Home) and PS (PWD). The Principal Secretary to LG will be a special invitee. It will interact with other officers and medical specialists as necessary.

The CMG will meet daily, and more often if necessary, to review the rapidly evolving COVID-19 in terms of cases, testing rates, positivity, mortality, recovery, hospital occupancy and other parameters.

It will review the Oxygen and medicine requirement and availability at all health institutions. Besides, the CMG will take immediate measures for preventing the spread and control of the infection, besides manage the availability of resources.

The CMG will also monitor the vaccine rollout and fine tune vaccination strategies to ensure speedy and complete coverage at the earliest besides take other steps with the overall goal of controlling the spread of the disease.

Govt orders probe into deaths allegedly due to oxygen shortage

Front

Precious Kashmir

03/05/2021

Jammu: The government ordered a magisterial probe on Sunday into reported deaths in a local hospital on May 1 occurred allegedly due to oxygen shortage.

An order issued by Raghav Langer, divisional commissioner Jammu, said that the financial commissioner health and medical education has appointed divisional commissioner Jammu as enquiry officer to look into the circumstances leading to incident that occurred at Acharaya Shri Chander Colleges of medical sciences and hospital Jammu (ASCOM) on May 1, 2021 wherein some deaths have been reported allegedly due to the shortage of oxygen.

The divisional commissioner has constituted a committee of experts which is directed to meet on Sunday at the ASCOM for further course of action.

The relatives of more than half a dozen Covid patients alleged on Saturday that their patients had died at the hospital because the authorities had cut off the oxygen supply for some time for reasons best known to them.

DDMA sets up Covid War room in Srinagar

Front

Precious Kashmir

03/05/2021

Srinagar: As the 84-hour corona curfew, imposed on Thursday evening, was extended till May 6, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has set up a round the clock COVId-19 War Room in Srinagar to provide service to people in case of any emergency.

Deputy Commissioner (DC), Srinagar Aijaz Asad, who is also chairman of DDMA, in a tweet said a round the clock COVID-19 War Room to deal with the prevailing surge in infections on the district.

People have been asked to contact on the helpline numbers 01942- 483650/651 in case of emergency with regard to requirement of medical oxygen, ambulance, vaccination, ICU beds, essential medicines or teleconsultation.

Corona curfew was imposed in Srinagar and other districts in the valley from Thursday 1900 hrs till Monday 0700 morning. However, the curfew has been extended till May 6 morning 0700 hrs.

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