Srinagar, Aug 5: Suspected militants hurled two grenades in a span of few hours at security forces in Bonbazar area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Wednesday. However, there was no casualty in the attacks, officials said.

A senior police officer told GNS that militants lobbed grenade from a distance when security forces were searching in the area. However there was no loss of life or injury in the incident.

Earlier in the day, militants hurled grenade and followed it by firing at the Bonbazaar in which there was no loss of life or injury either. Till this report was being filed searches were underway.

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, Aug 4: Kashmir reported eight more deaths due to COVID-19 since overnight, taking the fatality count due to the virus to 417 in J&K, officials said on Tuesday.

They said that two among the deaths—a 65-year-old woman from Magam Budgam and a 75-year-old man from Srinagar’s Khaniyar area— were reported at CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of the covid-19 patients in Kashmir Valley.

Also, two residents, a 65-year-old and a 55-year-old from Attina and Dregam Kremshore areas of Budgam died at SKIMS Soura and SMHS hospital respectively, they said.

Regarding the sexagenarian woman from Budgam, they said, she was shifted from SMHS hospital to CD hospital on August 3 with underlying ailments like hypertension diabetes and “severe pneumonia with respiratory failure”.

“She was shifted to ICU and put to ventilator. However at 4 a.m. today, the woman suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and died,” a senior doctor at the CD hospital told GNS.

Regarding other death, the doctor said that besides being hypertensive, the man was suffering from chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severe pneumonia.

The man developed sudden cardiac arrest at 1:45 a.m. and was declared dead subsequently, the doctor added.

Meanwhile, regarding the elderly from Attina Budgam, officials said that he was having underlying ailments and died at the tertiary care hospital early today.

As regards the man from Dregam, a doctor at SMHS said he was admitted with bilateral pneumonia on July 29 and died today.

Sources said that besides elderly from Budgam, a 59-year-old man from Basañtbagh area of Srinagar died at SKIMS. “Both of them had underlying ailments,” sources said. One death was reported from Bandipora district, officials said.

With these deaths, the fatality count due to the virus has risen to 417 in J&K—387 in Kashmir and 30 in Jammu.

Srinagar district with 138 deaths tops the list followed by Baramulla (73), Budgam (31), Kulgam (29), Anantnag (26), Shopian (23), Pulwama (24), Kupwara (21), Jammu (21), Bandipora (15), Ganderbal (7), two each in Rajouri and Doda and one each in Ramban, Samba, Poonch, Udhampur, and Kathua.

Tally at 22,396; 14856 recover

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Aug 4: As many as 390 more people tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday taking the total number of infected persons in Jammu and Kashmir to 22396, officials said.
They said that of the fresh cases 238 tested positive in Kashmir and 152 in Jammu. Moreover, 824 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, 291 from Jammu Division and 533 from Kashmir Division.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 22396 positive cases, 7123 are Active Positive, 14856 have recovered and 417 have died; 30 in Jammu division and 387 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 671413 test results available, 649017 samples have been tested as negative till August 04, 2020.

Additionally, till date 376393 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for observation which included 44229 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 7123 in isolation and 43078 under home surveillance. Besides, 281546 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 5432 positive cases (including 99 cases reported today) with 2300 Active Positive, 2994 recovered (including 229 cases recovered today), 138 deaths; Baramulla has 1968 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 443 Active Positive, 1452 recovered (including 09 cases recovered today), 73 deaths; Pulwama reported 1628 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 723 active positive cases and 881 recovered (including 49 cases recovered today) and 24 deaths; Kulgam has 1524 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 173 Active Positive and 1322 recoveries (including 173 cases recovered today) and 29 deaths; Shopian has 1485 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 224 Active Positive, 1238 recovered and 23 deaths; Anantnag district has 1411 positive cases (including 37 cases reported today) with 270 Active Positive, 1115 recovered (including 45 cases recovered today), 26 deaths;  Budgam has 1345 positive cases (including 09 cases reported today) with 436 Active Positive and 878 recovered (including 150 cases recovered today) cases and 31 deaths; Kupwara has 1161 positive cases (including 20 cases reported today) with 200 Active Positive, 940 recovered(including 04 cases recovered today), 21 deaths; Bandipora has 820 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today) with 273 Active Positive, 532 recovered (including 01 cases recovered today) and 15 deaths and  Ganderbal has 518 positive cases (including 28 cases reported today) with 180 active positive cases and 331 recoveries (including 34 case recovered today) and 07 deaths.

Similarly, Jammu has 1300 positive cases (including 41 cases reported today) with 583 active positive cases and 696 recoveries (including 52 cases recovered today), 21 deaths; Rajouri has 741 positive cases (including 21cases reported today) with 288 active positive cases, 451 recovered (including 147 cases recovered today), 02 deaths; Ramban has 574 positive cases with 131 active positive, 442 recoveries (including 01 case recovered today), 01 death; Kathua has 551 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 139 Active positive, 411 recovered (including 42 cases recovered today), 01 death; Udhampur has 581 positive cases (including 26 cases reported today)  with 216 active positive cases, 364 recovered (including 02 cases recovered today), 01 death; Samba has 457 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 176 Active Positive and 280 recoveries (including 01 case recovered today), 01 death; Doda has 299 positive cases (including 07 case reported today) with 80 active positive cases, 217 recoveries (including 17 recoveries today), 02 deaths; Poonch has 248 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 95 active positive, 152 recoveries (including 08 cases recovered today),01 death; Reasi has 198 positive cases (including 28 cases reported today) with 138 active positive, 60 recoveries (including 01 case recovered today) and Kishtwar has 155 positive cases  with 55 active positive cases; 100 recoveries (including 20 cases recovered today).

According to the bulletin, of the total 22396 positive cases in J&K 4593 have been reported as travelers while 17803 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 metre 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 handwashing 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 dialling 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).

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.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 4: The Union Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, today chaired a high level meeting to review the management of COVID-19 pandemic in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Secretary, J&K, B V R Subrahmanyam, Financial Commissioner, H&ME, Atal Dulloo, Additional Secretary (UT), Govind Mohan, Joint Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary (JK), Manish Tiwari and Mission Director (NHM), Bhupinder Kumar were present in the meeting.

At the outset, Health and Medical Education Department gave a presentation on prevailing situation in the UT. The meeting was informed that J&K is performing reasonably well in mitigating COVID-19 pandemic with  53,323 tests per million population, 1,746 cases per million population, doubling rate of 27.2 days, 3.3% positivity rate, 61.3% recovery rate, and 1.8% mortality rate. It was mentioned that the UT has so far conducted 6.5 lakh tests and currently has 21,416 confirmed cases, 7893 active cases, 13,127 recovered cases and 396 deaths.

Union Home Secretary while reviewing the COVID death audit report observed that most of the critical patients die within 72 hours of hospitalization. He emphasized on the need to tackle the issue.

Regarding testing capacities, Chief Secretary said that the related infrastructure has been ramped up and against the WHO recommendation of 140 tests per million population per day, J&K is now conducting 900 tests per million per day. For this, 5 additional testing laboratories, 4 CBNAAT facilities and 15 TRUENAT laboratories were established in government medical institutions, besides, augmenting the RTPCR tests with Rapid Antigen Tests. Further, the Government is also in the process of procuring 3 COBAS 6800 fully automated systems to enhance per day testing capacity, which is currently at 12,000 tests per day.

Further, Chief Secretary informed that the Government has recently revised home quarantine guidelines to permit such isolation in favour of asymptomatic patients with no co-morbidity and have Arogya Setu app downloaded for better monitoring, adding that they are being provided with Government sponsored oxymeters with the instruction of reporting to hospitals if their oxygen saturation level dips below 90%. “This will reduce the burden on healthcare institutions and will pave way to better monitoring of critical cases”, he said.

While sharing the data on surge of bilateral pneumonia cases in the valley, Chief Secretary sought help of the Union Government through a technical team of experts for analysing such cases and advising on probable containment of its spread.

Srinagar, Aug 4: After the gap of over four months, the government on Tuesday decided to open all the religious places in Jammu and Kashmir from August 16.

In a tweet, Government spokesman Rohit Kansal said that all the religious places and places of worship will open in Jammu and Kashmir from August 16.
“Major decision by J&K Government. All religious places and places of worship to open in Jammu & Kashmir from August 16, 2020. Religious processions and large religious gatherings remain strictly prohibited,” Kansal tweeted.

Pertinently, in wake of COVID-19 outbreak, the government ordered closure of all the religious places in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent the deadly virus from spreading.

Jammu, Aug 4: Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday classified the districts as Red, Orange and Green zones for the purpose of implementing the lockdown, from tomorrow (August 5, 2020).

An order issued by Chairperson of the State Executive Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred under section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, declared all districts of Kashmir province, (except Bandipora district) and Ramban district of Jammu Province as red zones; Kathua, Samba, Bandipora, Reasi, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu districts as Orange zones; and Doda and Kishtwar as Green zones.

The Lakhanpur Containment Zone on the National Highway will be a RED/ Containment Zone with a 500 meter buffer, the order stated.

This categorization of districts into Red, Orange and Green, as per the order, will be followed for the purposes of implementation of permitted activities in the respective districts, as per a separate order, to be issued by the State Executive Committee (SEC).

It further stated that this classification of districts will be reviewed periodically and any further modifications will be made by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

The classification, as per the order, has been done after a detailed review of the current COVID situation in Jammu and Kashmir with the Financial Commissioner, Health; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir and other officers.

The review particularly included ‘An overall assessment of the situation pertaining to the spread of COVID19 in Jammu and Kashmir; The trend in new cases particularly the recent spread/ spike in new cases in view of the continuous movement of persons travelling to J&K and between provinces/ districts; and the risk perception of the Health department vis-a-vis each district and the need to control further spread of COVID-19. (KNO)

Srinagar, Aug 4: Strict curfew restrictions were imposed in Kashmir on Tuesday to maintain law and order following intelligence inputs suggesting that separatists are planning to observe August 5,2020 as black day, officials said.

District Magistrates (DMs) of almost all districts in the Kashmir ordered imposition of restrictions for two days from today to prevent protests and other rallies on the first anniversary of scrapping of Article 370 and dividing the J&K into two Union Territories (UTs) on August 5, 2019.

The mainstream political parties too had announced to observe August 5 as black day while some had decided to hold rallies against the Centre’s decision alleging it was illegal and unconstitutional. However, the BJP decided to celebrate the day by organizing functions in Kashmir.

Additional security forces and police personnel were deployed to strictly impose the restrictions in the Valley.

In summer capital Srinagar, all main roads were closed and only those having fresh valid curfew pass issued by the DM were allowed to move.

We have strict instructions that only those having fresh curfew passes and medical emergency should be allowed to move, security force personnel told a group of media persons in the down town, where all roads were sealed since early this morning.

Large number of security force and J&K police personnel were deployed in the entire down town and outskirts to prevent any law and order problem.
All roads leading to historic Jamia Masjid were closed with barbed wire. The worship place, has remained closed since March this year in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nallahmar road from Khanyar to Chattabal remained closed for any pedestrian and traffic movement.
However, the road leading to S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura through down town was open though only patients and those associated with medical professionals were being allowed to move.

In the civil lines, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of summer capital, roads wore a deserted look with only security forces and police personnel remaining deployed. The Amira Kadal bridge, connecting Hari Singh High Street (HSHS) with Lal Chowk was closed with barbed wire.  The main markets, including Goni Khan and Mahraj Bazar, were also closed with barbed wire.

All roads leading to Maisumawere also closed and large number of security forces remained deployed to foil any attempt to protest.

In the uptown repeated announcements were made by police directing people to remain indoor as curfew has been imposed. The one-tube of fly over from Jehangir Chowk to Ram Bagh was closed for any traffic movement.

Security forces were also seen directing people to return back to their homes at Channapora and Rambagh and other places. However, in some areas some shops were also seen functioning and private vehicles plying.

Life also remained crippled due to restrictions imposed by the authorities in major towns and tehsil headquarters in the north, south and central Kashmir. Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the road due to restrictions. Large number of security forces remained deployed to prevent any protests.