New Delhi: As India faces the daunting task to make life-saving oxygen cylinders and key Covid drugs available amid the raging second wave of the pandemic, top health experts said on Thursday that the country needs to prepare itself for a long haul — at least for the next 2-3 years — unless oral drugs that can effectively kill the virus are available over the counter.

The Centre and the state governments need a well chalked-out plan for the next couple of years — unlike the current scary situation — to deal with the pandemic, which will become like a seasonal flu, they said.

“The future remains a mystery. Covid may continue for long if the strains remain infectious, and hit us hard a multiple times in the years to come, or it may disappear if the virus mutates to a very docile one similar to flu,” Neha Gupta, infectious diseases specialist at the Medanta-The Medicity, told IANS.

“The ideal situation will be oral drugs which can effectively kill the virus and are safe to use on OPD basis. Till then, mask, hand hygiene and social distancing are of paramount importance for us and must remain a part of our lives for years to come,” she elaborated.

Covid-19 may be seasonal like flu, according to researchers from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

“One conclusion is that the disease may be seasonal, like the flu. This is very relevant to what we should expect from now on after the vaccine controls these first waves of Covid-19,” said Gustavo Caetano-Anolles in a paper published in the journal ‘Evolutionary Bioinformatics’.

While temperature and latitude are unmistakably correlated with Covid-19 cases, researchers said that climate is only one factor driving seasonal Covid-19 incidence worldwide – something that we are currently witnessing in India.

According to V. Ramana Prasad, senior pulmonologist at the KIMS Hospital in Hyderababd, Covid is now going to be there in the community forever, like any other communicable disease.

“The only option for any country is to vaccinate majority of its people so that the disease severity comes down both in terms of morbidity and mortality. After two-three years, it may become endemic and we may see sporadic spurt of Covid cases, like Swine Flu,” Prasad told IANS.

The virus is changing at its own pace, and mutations are affected by factors other than temperature or latitude.

“We don’t know exactly what these factors are, but we can now say that seasonal effects are independent of the genetic makeup of the virus,” said Caetano-Anolles.

India is now facing more lethal variants, even a triple-mutant one.

The B1617 variant, first detected in Maharashtra, contains mutations from two separate virus variants — E484Q and L452R. The third mutation evolved from the double mutation where three different Covid strains combined to form a new variant.

Two of these triple-mutant varieties have been found in samples collected from Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.

Pratibha Dogra, senior pulmonologist at the W Pratiksha Hospital in Gurugram, said that Covid has come back with a vengeance with the second wave.

“The healthcare system is overwhelmed. It is affecting all age groups and ironically males aged 20-50 are the worst affected. We are now dealing with RT-PCR negative but High Resolution CT (HRCT) chest positive Covid patients, which is the new cohort,” Dogra informed.

Shubhranshu, senior pulmonologist at the Jaipur Chest Centre, said that it looks like it may take around one-two years for things to return to normal, provided we vaccinate more and more people and maintain social distancing.

Srinagar:  Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today called for strict mask enforcement through volunteers in Kashmir to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The Div Com made these remarks while chairing a Covid- 19 review meeting here.

He directed concerned teams of NSS, NCC, NYC, SDRF and other volunteers to carry out rigorous Covid-19 SOPs awareness and mask enforcement across all districts of Kashmir.

He said that teams shall carry out the exercise separately and shall also strictly fine people for violation of SOPs.

He said while the Psychiatry department shall restart counselling assistance for the general public through various helpline numbers, the Physical Teachers of YSS department shall conduct virtual exercises particularly Yoga classes for boost of mental as well as physical health of students.

The Div Com also stressed on deployment of volunteers in designated hospitals as a manpower boost in various departments.

Emphasizing on immunity boosting awareness among the people, the Div Com instructed concerned to ensure hassle-free distribution of immunity boost medicine kits among the people.

He said that the medicine is being distributed free of cost and shall be given through Social Welfare Centers , PHCs, Ayush centres.

The Div Com further stressed on mass awareness through media and instructed concerned exporters to aware people about the new strain, precautions, importance of following SOPs and other related issues through TV, Radio, Print and Social Media.

The Div Com impressed upon maintaining the proper home isolation of positive patients for their recovery.

At the outset, the Div Com took detailed district wise latest trends of positive cases, deaths, persons in home isolation, referrals, containment zones and contact tracing.

The meeting was attended by Director School Education, Director Colleges, Commandant SDRF, HS Regional Red Cross Kashmir, In Charge Covid Control Room, YSS officer Srinagar, HoD SPMGMC, HoD Psychiatry GMC, Div Nodal Officer ISM and other concerned.

Srinagar: The weatherman on Friday said that dry and warmer weather was expected from April 24 to May 3 even as plains in Kashmir Valley received more rains while upper reaches including the world famous skiing resort of Gulmarg received fresh snowfall.

A meteorological department official told GNS that Srinagar received 37.4mm of rain in the last 24 hours till 0830 a.m. today while it recorded a low of 4.6°C against 8.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was 4.3°C below normal in the summer capital of J&K for this time of the season, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, received 15.4mm of rain during the time and recorded a low of 3.6°C against previous night’s 4.6°C, the official said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, received 21.4mm of rain and recorded a low of 0.8°C against 3.3°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, received 13.3mm of rain during the time and recorded a low of 1.8°C against previous night’s 3.7°C, the official said.

Kupwara had 11.0 mm of rain and recorded a low of 3.7°C against 5.0°C on the previous night, the official said.

Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, received 29.0cm (near one foot) of fresh snowfall in the last 24 hours, the officials said. The report recorded a low of minus 2.0°C against minus 0.5°C on the previous night, the official said.  Reports of snowfall have been received in other upper reaches of the Valley. The MeT office has forecast “isolated to scattered light rain//thunderstorm over Jammu and Kashmir divisions” in next 24 hours.

“Weather will improve gradually as the day progresses and from April 24 till 3rd May expect dry and warmer weather in both J&K and Ladakh,” Director Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus.

Srinagar: Traffic authorities on Friday said that one way traffic shall be allowed on Jammu-Srinagar highway on Saturday.

“Tomorrow (April 24), subject to fair weather and better road condition, LMVs (passenger) shall be allowed from Srinagar towards Jammu on Jammu-Srinagar highway.  TCU Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic” reads a traffic department communiqué.

“Commuters are advised not to travel on the highway without confirming the status of road from TCU Jammu/ Ramban/Srinagar in view of inclement weather on highway,” it said.

Srinagar: Army and police detected and destroyed two improvised explosive device (IEDs) in Pulwama and Shopian district of south Kashmir on Friday, officials said.

They said that the first IED was detected at Circle Road in Pulwama district and was later destroyed by a Bomb Disposal Squad without any damage.

“The IED, weighing about 3-4 kgs, was covered in carbon papers and was kept under an empty cement bag on roadside,” a police officer told GNS.

Meanwhile, a low intensity IED was found in Gagran area in Shopian district.

Official sources said that the Bomb Disposal Squad reached the spot and defuse the IED without any damage.

By: Asif Iqbal

Srinagar: Advising the students to take care of their hygiene amid Covid-19 times, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mehraj-ud-Din Bhat has in a short video-clip asked varsity enrolled students to cash in every learning mode available to complete their courses well in time.

In a one-minute and five second video clip, now doing rounds on social media, the top educationist can be watched remarking that ‘Time, Health and Imaan are important components of one’s life’ and that the students should take care of themselves and their family amid Covid-19 times.

Advising the students not to waste their time, Din says that “Whatever mode available, offline or online, should be exhausted (by the students) to complete their particular courses well on time.”

To meet this objective, the students need to keep themselves hygienic, submit themselves before Almighty Allah and be obedient to one’s parents, Din says adding that “Work hard with commitment, dedication and InShaAllah you (students) will find success on your side.” (GNS)

Pitches for disallowing congregational prayers, religious gatherings in city to contain COVID-19

Srinagar: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu has written to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, recommending several measures including disallowing all congregational prayers and religious gatherings in Srinagar to contain the spreading of Covid-19 in the City.

The City Mayor has also recommended closure of the tourist gardens, tourist sites and monuments here to prevent the virus from spreading.

In a letter addressed to Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, Junaid Mattu has said that as the second wave of COVID mounts an unprecedented challenge in the entire country including Jammu and Kashmir, he wants to reaffirm the full cooperation of Srinagar Municipal Corporation to the Administration in taking every possible measure to contain the spread of COVID and saving precious lives.

“While the Administration is taking every required step and is monitoring the evolving situation closely, I want to request for the following measures to be implemented in Srinagar City limits to help contain COVID optimally and effectively,” he said.

He said that to contain the Covid-19 it is recommended that disallow all congregational prayers and religious gatherings at places of worship in Srinagar and seeking community consensus and involvement in mounting this challenge together.

“Shutting down all Tourist Gardens, monuments and tourist sites. Making a negative RT-PCR test report mandatory for anyone entering Srinagar by air or through the road routes,” the letter reads.

It reads that shutting down our OPDs at Government and Private Hospitals to reduce the strain on our healthcare infrastructure, better isolate our frontline health workers and allow them a better and safer atmosphere in their valiant fight against COVID. “All emergent cases can be treated at Emergency Wings and designated COVID centers at the hospitals.”

“Ceasing all elective, non-emergent procedures and surgeries at the hospitals till the situation improves and vaccination rates go up. Surgeries and procedures for emergent and terminal patients should be prioritised,” it reads.

It reads a 50 percent attendance roster on rotational basis at all essential services, Government and Public Offices. “A 33% attendance roster on rotational basis at all non-essential-services Government and Public Offices.”

It reads that a 33% attendance roster on a rotational basis for teachers of Government and private schools (those that continue to seek presence of teachers for administrative and curriculum dissemination purposes).

“A 33% rotational regulation for vendor-markets and flea-markets in Srinagar – regulating crowds that throng these markets. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) had initiated a regulation of these markets during the first wave of COVID and I’m of the firm opinion the same needs to be replicated now without any delay.”

The letter further reads that the constitution of a multi-agency field task-force to enforce COVID guidelines (Mask-usage, physical-distancing and restrictions in outdoor and indoor gatherings) as issued by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) with a strong law-enforcement liaison.

“Deployment of Reserve Battalions of Jammu and Kashmir Police to enforce adherence to COVID guidelines should be considered for this initiative.”

It reads that a comprehensive, multimedia and multi-pronged community awareness campaign with door-to-door initiatives to ensure maximum possible success of the COVID vaccination drive.

Mattu said that he will extend his full support and that all of his fellow Corporators across partisan lines to the Administration’s efforts to fight an unprecedented challenge in battling COVID and minimizing its spread in Srinagar and the Union Territory at large.

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday appointed the Principal Secretary to the government, Industries and Commerce Department as nodal officer of the Logistic Coordination Committee for integrated development of logistic sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner Secretary to the government, in order, a copy of which lies with KNO states that the Principal Secretary government shall be the Nodal Officer of the logistic coordination committee.

“It is hereby ordered that Principal Secretary to the Government, Industries and Commerce Department shall be the Nodal Officer for integrated development of logistic sector in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” reads the order.

Srinagar: Army on Friday said that its troops from the Siachen brigade rescued at least 18 civilians and some vehicles after they got stuck in heavy snowfall at North Pullu and Khardung La Top.

“On April 21 evening, due to heavy snowfall, vehicle traffic was disrupted along the route from North Pullu – Khardung La Top – South Pullu leading to civilian vehicles getting stranded near Khardung La Top and North Pullu. The Indian Army troops of the Siachen Brigade immediately launched a rescue operation to extricate the stranded civilians,” a statement said.

The Army said that at a distance of five Km from North Pullu towards Khardung La Top, three vehicles were stranded between snow slides and one vehicle had overturned. “Indian Army detachments from North Pullu alongwith the Avalanche Rescue Teams cleared the snow slide and rescued eight civilians from the site. After checking their health parameters at North Pullu, few civilians who were from nearby Khardung Village were dropped off to their respective houses and the remainder was accommodated at Khalsar.”

“At Khardung La Top, a total of 10 civilians and one Scorpio, one Civil Gypsy and a mini bus were rescued. They were provided immediate first aid and medical screening was carried out to check their vitals,” Army said, adding that all these civilians were provided food and accommodation from within the limited resources available with the Indian Army detachment at the site.

“The timely and bold actions of the Indian Army in extreme weather saved precious human life and was well appreciated by the locals,” it added.