Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 28: Jammu and Kashmir police will introduce Citizen Centric Mobile App which will help citizens to avail police service, a police spokesman said on Friday evening.
The features of the App included registration of complaints, verification of tenants and domestic help, he said.
The spokesman said Director General of Police (DGP) on Friday chaired a meeting of senior police officers at Police Headquarters here regarding Citizen Centric Mobile App.
He said the meeting was attended by S J M Gillani ADGP (Coordinator) PHQ, A G Mir, ADGP (Hqrs.) PHQ, T Namgyal IGP (Traffic) J&K, M K Sinha, IGP (Crime) J&K, Garib Dass, IGP (Hqrs) PHQ, Alok Kumar, IGP (CIV) PHQ and Rayees Mohammad Bhat, AIG (P&T) PHQ.
The proposed Citizen Centric Mobile App. will act as an interface between the citizens and the Police department. The citizens will be able to avail police services by using this App.
The features of the App include registration of complaints, verification of tenants and domestic help, request for police permission wherever required, reporting incidents of crime and traffic violation, provisions for online payment of challans, senior citizens registration and tracking system, highway status update, FIR view and download, missing persons information, absconders information, vehicle theft and recovered information, lost goods, women related security services and alerts.
JKP to introduce mobile App for citizens to avail police services
Dulloo inaugurates NAT-PCR at GMC, Srinagar
Facility shall help in early detection of transfusion transmission infections
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 28: Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo, Friday inaugurated State-of-Art Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT-PCR) facility at Government Medical College Srinagar for safer quality blood transfusion funded under National Health Mission in the UT.
Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K, Bhupinder Kumar, Principal Govt. Medical College, Srinagar, Dr Samia Rashid, Head of Department Blood & Transfusion Medicine GMC, Srinagar, Dr. Rubi Reshi State Nodal Officer, NHM, Dr. Mohammad Shafi Koka, were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Dulloo said with the implementation of Nobel Prize winning NAT-PCR technology, the Blood Transfusion safety in the UT will now be of International standards. This facility shall help in early detection of transfusion transmission infections like HIV, Hepatits “B” and Hepatitis “C” Virus. He said that, NAT testing facility has been funded by National Health Mission and all the blood donations in three major tertiary care hospitals viz; SMHS, Lal Ded, Bone & Joint Hospital shall be screened, he added.
Bhupinder Kumar, Mission Director NHM, J&K said that by adopting this technology as an integral part of blood transfusion services, safety of patients and wellbeing of the people of Union Territory shall be ensured by providing an additional layer of safety to blood recipients. The first such facility in the Union Territory has already been inaugurated on June 14th at Govt. Medical College, Jammu ensuring the highest level of blood safety in the region, he added.
Principal GMC Srinagar said NAT-PCR helps to detect the presence of life threatening viruses HIV, HBV and HCV that may be present in the blood donated in window period of the infection, and can be missed by conventional screening technologies which ensures additional safety to blood recipients. There are many reports highlighting the incidence of Transfusion Transmitted Infections (TTIs), especially in the patients receiving multiple transfusions in critical conditions like Thalassemia, Cancer or Cardiac surgeries.
Dr. Rubi Reshi, Head of Department, Blood & Transfusion Medicine GMC, Srinagar said that, “Blood donations screened with world class NAT PCR technology will reduce the risk of infection in 3 patients, as every unit of blood can be transfused to three people when separated into components.
Can political parties get everything back?
Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 27: National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Conference, Awami National Conference (ANC) and CPI (M) joining hands to fight for the restoration of pre-August 5, 2019 position has infused some energy into the “lifeless” politics of the Valley.
Since the day NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah has chaired the All Party Meeting at his Gupkar residence here the political activities, which were stalled since August 5, 2019, seem to have recommenced. The Gupkar declaration issued by these parties has demanded restoration of J&K’s special status and statehood. On August 5 last year the Centre had abrogated Articles 370 and 35-A and had bifurcated erstwhile State into two Union Territories, J&K and Ladakh. More than 40 mainstream leaders, including three former J&K chief ministers were detained after the move. At present PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and few others are under detention while others have been released.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Post August 5, 2019, political scene in Jammu and Kashmir has changed drastically. J&K has turned into a Union Territory which is directly controlled by the Centre at present. If the assembly elections are held without J&K’s statehood being restored it would mean that Lieutenant Governor will be the final authority and all the politicians will have to abide by him.”
He said that during the past seventy years regional leaders have enjoyed unlimited powers as they were the final decision makers. “Many people are of the opinion that the slogan of getting everything back may not work as scrapping J&K’s special status was the Centre’s well thought decision and it had done a lot of home work for the same. No one can stop the political parties from demanding J&K’s special status back as it’s their right. But the history stands witness to the fact that whatever, was taken away from J&K during the past 70-years was never returned. Nor could any of the politicians get it back. But maybe this time around they may succeed,” the analyst added.
An observer said that revival of the political activities is a welcome step as it can go a long way in empowering people again. “This time around politicians in Kashmir may not find it that easy to come into the power. After delimitation exercise is completed Jammu and Kashmir will almost have equal number of assembly seats, so chief minister could be either from Kashmir or Jammu region,” he added.
Recently, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah, in an interview stated that the parties which have come together haven’t decided whether they will contest jointly or won’t contest the polls at all. “We have to chalk out our future strategy collectively,” he had said.
587 posts of dental surgeons caught in official wrangles
No post created since 2008, says president SDS
Gul Owais
Srinagar, Aug 28: Proposal to create over 500 posts of dental surgeons has been caught in the official wrangles for the past two years, official sources told Precious Kashmir on Thursday.
They said that over 4000 dental surgeons have been unemployed since 2008.
Officials privy to the development said that two years have elapsed since the work over the creation of 587 dental surgeon posts was started in Jammu and Kashmir, but the process was not taken to its logical end.
Notably, the Directorate of Health Services in early 2018 had submitted a proposal for creation of posts for 587 dental surgeons. However, the officials divulged that in the last over two years, the file regarding the creation of posts has been returned to the Directorate many times for one reason or the other.
They informed the file was almost in its final stage all the time, but was returned without any substantial reason. The officials further informed that the Directorate was told to reduce the number of posts for in 2019.
When contacted Director Health Services Kashmir (DHSK), Dr. Samir Matoo said that he has no knowledge about the issue, adding that this is an administrative matter and only the officials concerned can provide any details in this regard.
Meanwhile, President of Society of Dental Surgeons Jammu and Kashmir (SDS), Dr. Imtiyaz Banday told ‘Precious Kashmir’ that the delegation led by him recently met the Finance Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo. “During the meeting, we apprised him about the non-creation of dental surgeon posts since long,” he said.
He added that the posts in Jammu and Kashmir were created last in 2008, adding that even after getting proposals from the concerned; nothing has been done in this regard. “We strongly recommend the creation of dental surgeon posts. Several other posts have been created so far but the creation of posts for dental surgeons has been ignored since,” he said, adding that the people in far-flung areas have been facing tremendous hardships in absence of the dental surgeons.
He also said that a file regarding the creation of posts is being moved from one department to another, but no result was yielded yet even after the passage of over two years.
Despite repeated attempts, Finance Commissioner H&ME, Atal Dulloo couldn’t be contacted for the comments as he didn’t receive the phone call from this reporter.
Pertinently, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha soon after taking the charge directed the Health Department to fill all the vacancies of doctors and other paramedics in the hospitals across the Union Territory to improve the doctor-patient ratio.
Day 2: Rains trigger flash floods in J&K parts
>Man killed, 18 rescued from flood waters
>Downpour triggers multiple landslides
> Weather to improve today
>Sgr-Jmu highway remains closed
Peerzada Waseem/ Umaisar Gul
Srinagar, Aug 27: A man was killed after tree fell on him in Poonch district while as the incessant rainfall for the second consecutive day triggered flash floods in many areas across the Union Territory on Thursday, officials said.
They said that a man identified as Faqir Ahmed son of Muhammad Ismail resident of Targain, Rajouri at present in Dhok Girjan, Surankote in Poonch district, got killed after a tree fell on him amid heavy rainfall. This is the second causality in the past 24 hours. Yesterday, a man was killed due to landslides in Jammu region.
Officials said that two dozen people were trapped in the flood water in Jammu division of which 18 were rescued and the remaining were being rescued by the disaster management teams, police and the army.
The weatherman has predicted improvement in the weather conditions from tomorrow morning and stated the weather would remain mostly dry for the next coming days. Besides, the Srinagar-Jammu highway continued to remain closed for the third consecutive day as the fresh shooting stones continue to occur at many places along the highway.
The incessant rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir has triggered flash floods in Jammu parts and also caused inundation in Kashmir parts especially in the low-lying areas of Srinagar district where people faced waterlogging.
Witnesses said that almost all the roads including in commercial Hub Lal Chowk, link roads, lanes and bi-lanes were inundated today due to the incessant rainfall, causing hardships to the pedestrians as well as to the commuters.
In Sopore area of north Kashmir, Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Division in an order issued flood alert in Sopore areas.
“It is continuously raining from last 24 hours and there is every apprehension of heavy discharged in the adjacent Nallahs and tributaries as such all the sector officer, beat officers are asked to remain vigilant and have an advance inspection of their jurisdiction especially vulnerable spots, and apprise the undersigned with latest situation,” the order, a copy reads.
The heavy rainfall has also triggered landslides in Gingal area of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Reports reaching here that during heavy rainfall, massive landslides occurred near Huwa Mod, Gingal Cholan road, which forced the authorities to close the road.
However, officials said the men and machinery has been pressed to clear the road.
According to KNO correspondent from Jammu, officials said that at least 24 people were trapped in flood water in different districts from last evening, adding that 18 among them have been rescued while the efforts are on to rescue six other persons.
“In Kathua, seven persons were trapped in Ujh River and the air force chopper was pressed to rescue them,” officials said, adding that all the seven persons were rescued later.
“In Thanamandi area of Rajouri district, three persons were trapped in the river and they were rescued in the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday at around 01:00 AM by the joint team of Army and police,’ they said.
In Harni area of Poonch district, eight people were trapped and police team along with the locals rescued them timely, they said, adding that in Khanetar area of the district, two persons were trapped while the rescue operation is on to rescue them.
They said food has been provided to the persons who are trapped while the efforts are on to rescue them.
In Jhulas area of Poonch district, which is located near Line of Control (LoC), four persons are also trapped in flood water and joint operation by the police and Army was on to rescue them.
Besides, multiple landslides occurred in Rajouri, Poonch, Chinab Valley districts and Reasi district throughout the day, causing damage to the link roads as well as the bridges in the areas.
Officials have also sounded alert in many areas of Jammu division, asking people not to venture near the water bodies.
Officials further informed that a number of cowsheds and other residential houses have also got damaged today. However, the exact number of the damaged structures couldn’t be ascertained till late evening.
In Jammu city, as per the KNO Correspondent, the incessant rains have caused water logging at multiple places, thus simultaneously led to the sufferings of people.
Nonetheless, Deputy Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad said that the weather conditions as per the forecast will improve from August 28 morning.
He said there is possibility of light rainfall in between 9-10 PM on August 27 evening while the overall weather conditions will improve from tomorrow.
Ahmad further informed that the weather in Jammu and Kashmir will remain mostly dry till the next week. ”There is no fresh forecast of any rainfall,” he said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road connecting Valley with rest of the States continued to remain closed for the third consecutive day today.
Officials said that shooting stones occurred at many places today, which has hampered the road clearance work as well.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Traffic, Ramban, Ajay Anand told KNO the shooting stones has occurred at many places today and the road clearance work has got also hampered due to it. “Once the weather conditions improve, the road will be cleared from the debris,” he said.
“Over 5000 vehicles are stranded on the either side of the road and will be allowed to ply once the road will be cleared,” he added.
Sindh crosses danger mark, Doodhganga inches closer
Jhelum swells, still below flood threat mark
Srinagar, Aug 27: Incessant rains in the last two days have raised the water level of many rivers in the Jammu and Kashmir, triggering flood threat in a few districts on Thursday.
Official sources told GNS that river Sindh was flowing at 3.6m against danger mark of 3.35m near Duderhama Ganderbal in central Kashmir’s district at 10 pm.
Also, water level in Doodhganga Nallah was at 3.69m against danger mark 3.8m at Barzulla Srinagar at 10 pm, the official sources added.
However, they said, the water level in the Jhelum was far below at all the measuring points during its course as well as its tributaries.
The water level in south Kashmir’s Sangam gauge was 9.87 ft., way below the alarm level of 15 feet and danger mark of 21 feet.
At Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, it was 10.15 feet against the alarm level of 16 feet and flood level of 19 feet, the officials said.
The state’s summer capital Srinagar, which was devastated by floods in September in 2014, received 23.5 mm of rainfall from 0830 to 1730 hours today, an official of the MET department said.
South Kashmir also recorded about the same amount of downpour while Kupwara in north Kashmir received 26.4 rainfall during the time, the official said.
Meanwhile, the continuous rainfall across Kashmir has also brought relief to the farmers as the Valley had reeled under dry weather conditions over the past three months.
Srinagar city recorded a maximum temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius on August 17 which was the hottest August day in the last 39 years.
The mercury in the Srinagar and elsewhere in the Kashmir had stayed above the normal by several degrees this month.
However, the rains have brought down the temperature with the Srinagar recording maximum of 19.0 degrees Celsius, ten degrees below the normal temperature for this time of the year, the official said.
The maximum temperature in Srinagar settled at 16.8, 0.4 degrees below the normal for this part of the season, the official added.
The other places in the valley also experienced huge relief from the sweltering heat due to the rains as the mercury went down by several degrees. Pahalgam recorded 16.7 degrees Celsius against normal of 24.9 degree Celsius while Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort receorded maximum of 13.0 against 20.2 degrees Celsius normal for this time of the season.
COVID-19 claims 11 more lives in J&K
Former Cong MLC among deceased
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Aug 27: Eleven people including a former MLC died due to the COVID-19 in the Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, official sources told GNS on Thursday.
They said the former MLC and Congress leader, who had tested positive for the pestilence on August 24, passed away at the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Kathua in the early hours today.
The 87-year-old leader was suffering from multiple underlying ailments and was admitted to the hospital last week, they said.
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the demise of the MLC and veteran political leader of Kathua.
In a condolence message, the Lt Governor has prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family at this hour of grief, an official spokesman said.
Meanwhile, official sources said that two more persons from Jammu division died due to the virus.
They include a 63-year-old man from Rajouri district who died at the GMC hospital Jammu along with a 70-year-old woman from the winter capital of the J&K
Eight people from Kashmir died due the virus since overnight, taking the overall fatality count in J&K to 675.
They said a 95-year-old man from Jawahar Nagar Srinagar died at 9:30 hours last night at CD hospital. “He was a case of bilateral pneumonia with HTN and diabetes. “The patient was intubated on August 16 and had cardiac arrest,” a senior doctor at the hospital said.
A 45-year-old woman from Pandach Srinagar, who was admitted to SKIMS Soura on August 25 died at the tertiary care hospital.
A 58-year-old woman from Hajan Pulwama who was admitted on August 18 also died at the hospital.
A 60-year-old man from Fateh Kadal Srinagar who was admitted on August 17 as a case of “CKD, CAD bilateral CAP” died at SMHS hospital.
A 56-year-old woman from Waterwani Budgam also died at SKIMS, a week after she was admitted to the hospital, the sources said.
Among others, the fatalities include an 80-year-old person from Kokernag area and a 60-year-old woman from Pulwama.
With these deaths, 675 people have fallen victims to the covid-19 and include 57 from Jammu division and remaining 618 from Kashmir Valley.
India records over 75,000 cases, tally crosses 33 lakh mark
New Delhi, Aug 27: India recorded the steepest single-day spike of 75,760 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday taking the country’s virus caseload to over 33 lakh.
A record 75,760 infections were added in a day, taking the total coronavirus caseload to 33,10,234. The death toll climbed to 60,472 with 1,023 fatalities being reported in 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
With a total of 25,23,771 patients having recuperated so far, the recovery rate was recorded at 76.24 per cent while the COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined to 1.83 per cent.
There are 7,25,991 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 21.93 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 and went past 30 lakh on August 23.
According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 3,85,76,510 samples have been tested up to August 26 with 9,24,998 samples being tested on Wednesday.
JK reports 655 fresh cases, tally at 35000
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Aug 26: As many as 655 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday this taking the total number of cases in the Union Territory to 35135, officials said.
They said of the fresh cases 497 were reported in Kashmir and 158 in Jammu, moreover, 528 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals, 89 from Jammu and 439 from Kashmir.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 35135 positive cases, 7743 are Active Positive, 26721 have recovered and 671 have died; 57 in Jammu division and 614 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 915226 test results available, 880091 samples have been tested as negative till August 27, 2020.
Till date 448697 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for observation which included 44537 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 7743 in isolation and 43728 under home surveillance. Besides, 352018 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 8735 positive cases (including 182 cases reported today) with 1626 Active Positive, 6896 recovered (including 103 cases recovered today), 213 deaths; Baramulla has 2727 positive cases (including 33 cases reported today) with 547 Active Positive, 2081 recovered (including 20 cases recovered today), 99 deaths; Pulwama reported 2484 positive cases (including 42 cases reported today) with 470 active positive cases, 1966 recovered (including 44 cases recovered today), 48 deaths; Kulgam has 1885 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 220 Active Positive, 1632 recoveries (including 22 cases reported today), 33 deaths; Shopian has 1669 positive cases (including 23 cases reported today) with 121 Active Positive, 1520 recovered (including 01 case reported today), 28 deaths; Anantnag district has 2220 positive cases (including 27 cases reported today) with 500 Active Positive, 1672 recovered (including 12 cases recovered today), 48 deaths; Budgam has 2331 positive cases (including 60 cases reported today) with 626 Active Positive and 1648 recovered (including 31 cases recovered today), 57 deaths; Kupwara has 1989 positive cases (including 46 cases reported today) with 619 Active Positive, 1325 recovered (including 50 cases recovered today), 45 deaths; Bandipora has 2025 positive cases (including 51 cases reported today) with 719 Active Positive, 1282 recovered (including 122 cases recovered today), 24 deaths and Ganderbal has 1304 positive cases (including 25 cases reported today) with 577 active positive cases, 708 recoveries (including 34 cases recovered today) and 19 deaths.
Similarly, Jammu has 2648 positive cases (including 87 cases reported today) with 786 active positive cases, 1824 recoveries (including 44 cases recovered today), 38 deaths; Rajouri has 865 positive cases (including 07 cases reported today) with 100 active positive cases, 760 recovered, 05 deaths; Ramban has 651 positive cases with 23 active positive, 627 recoveries, 01 death; Kathua has 807 positive cases (including 25 cases reported today) with 162 Active positive, 642 recovered (including 01 case recovered today), 03 death; Udhampur has 760 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 123 active positive cases, 635 recovered, 02 deaths; Samba has 682 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 191 Active Positive, 489 recoveries (including 25 cases reported today), 02 deaths; Doda has 394 positive cases (including 10 cases reported today) with 59 active positive cases, 333 recoveries (including 04 cases reported today), 02 deaths; Poonch has 388 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today) with 70 active positive, 315 recoveries (including 08 cases recovered today), 03 deaths; Reasi has 362 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 180 active positive, 182 recoveries (including 01 case recovered today) and Kishtwar has 209 positive cases (including 03 case reported today) with 24 active positive cases and 184 recoveries (including 06 cases recovered today) and 01 death .
According to the bulletin, of the total 35135 positive cases in J&K 6242 have been reported as travelers while 28893 as others.
The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.
The bulletin has informed the people that, the best way to protect themselves from COVID-19 is by maintaining physical distance of at least 2 meter from others, frequently cleaning hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer or washing them with soap and water and following good respiratory etiquette and hygiene.
As a measure for social distancing in public places and workplaces wearing a face cover is compulsory.
The bulletin again explained that early detection of COVID-19 can prevent the spread of disease so we need to be responsible for the well-being of ourselves and everyone around us. “Not disclosing symptoms could put life of individuals and their families at risk. In case of symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing report early. Do not fear, call COVID-19 helpline numbers and seek medical advice”.
Advisory has further exhorted upon the people not to step out of home, unless absolutely necessary. “If you have to move out for unavoidable reasons, ensure that you wear a mask and practice social distancing, personal hygiene and frequent hand washing with soap and water.”
In case of any emergency people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 at their doorsteps by calling on toll-free number 108 while as pregnant women and sick infants can avail free ambulance services by dialing toll-free number 102.
People can also call on toll-free national helpline number 1075; J&K COVID-19 Helpline Numbers 0191- 2549676 (UT level Cell), 0191-2520982, 0191-2674444, 0191-2674115 (For Jammu Division), 0194-2440283 & 0194-2430581 (For Kashmir Division) for support, guidance, and response to health-related queries on Novel Corona virus Disease (COVID-19).
The bulletin has informed that the Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine, J&K is distributing AYUSH Medicines having immunity boosting, immuno-modulator, anti-oxidant, rejuvenator, anti-stress, metabolism regulator, anti-allergic, anti-pyretic, anti-tussive, bronchodilator, etc properties during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department so far has provided medicine to 8.47 lakh people that include various frontline workers, senior citizens, PRIs, police/paramilitary personals and general masses. Moreover, preventive measures and Yoga therapies are also being advised to the people to take care of lifestyle/mental disorders so that physical and mental health is ensured during this pandemic.
Public is advised to strictly follow the advisories issued by the government from time to time and rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.
People are also advised to refrain from spreading rumours and pay no heed to them at the same time.
Cabinet Secretary reviews COVID-19 control performance
Commends J&K for performing much better than national average
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 27: In the backdrop of recent surge in COVID related deaths, the Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba, while chairing a high level meeting, asked all the States and Union Territories to dedicatedly work on the testing and early hospitalization of COVID patients, besides, undertaking a robust containment/red zone surveillance strategy to ensure that the case fatality in each State/UT remains below 1%.
Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam along with Chief Secretaries of various States including Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal participated in the meeting.
While reviewing the public health response to COVID-19, Cabinet Secretary informed that currently 10 States/ UTs are having approximately 70% active cases with subsequent 83% COVID related deaths. He laid emphasis on the need to proactively identify the critical cases and provide prompt medical intervention to check this trend.
The Cabinet Secretary reiterated the need for an effective containment strategy and adequate testing facilities for early detection of COVID cases so as to minimise its spread in the community. “This can be further reinforced by perimeter control, active house to house surveillance, contact tracing and timely testing”, he added.
Speaking on the measures to be undertaken to lower ‘Case Fertility Rate’ below 1%, Cabinet Secretary emphasised on tracing and testing all close contacts of new positive cases with 72 hours of detection, in addition to regularly monitoring the patients under home isolation through tele-calling and home visits. He maintained that testing capacities can be augmented by using Rapid Antigen Tests in containment zones and healthcare institutions.
Efforts of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to contain COVID spread were applauded as the UT has steadily maintained Positivity Rate of 3.8%, much lower than the national average of 8.60%, with Case Fertility Rate of 1.89%, which is roughly close to national average of 1.84%.
The Chief Secretary, J&K, informed that strategic efforts are in place to ensure hospitalisation of vulnerable patients especially children, old aged and patients with co-morbidity to further lower the fatality rate of 1.9%. Moreover, end-to-end case management comprising surveillance, testing, treatment, referrals including transition through ambulance is also being strengthened through better coordination of the concerned agencies.
He said that COVID trajectory is being closely monitored with special focus on spread of infection through travellers, primary and secondary contacts, especially after resumption of religious pilgrimage. “J&K is still conducting universal testing of all visitors travelling by air, road and railways”, he added.
