Makkah, July 30: Delivering the Hajj sermon in Makkah from Masjid-e-Nimra in Arafat, Sheikh Abdullah bin Sulaiman on Thursday said that in times of adversity, such as the current coronavirus pandemic, we must turn to our Lord “with humility, penitence and hope”.

“My dear audience, life in this world does not remain free of difficulty, and this is why Allah, the Most Exalted, instructed us to persevere,” said Sheikh Sulaiman.

He said that adversities “serve as a test for people”, and “allow those who persevere to be distinguished from those who are impatient”.

Sheikh Sulaiman reminded everyone that “no matter how difficult circumstances may become in this world, those difficulties do not last forever”.

“Allah’s mercy is always more expansive, and the relief He grants is always near.”

Today, on the ninth of the Islamic ZilHajj month, pilgrims arrived at the plains of the Mount Arafat amid special arrangements for the “downsized” Hajj due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

General clinics at Arafat have been installed which will have doctors, consultants and intensive care nurses to help pilgrims. The health provisions will also deal with any pilgrim suffering from a heat stroke or stress.

A camp has been prepared by the government in Arafat to isolate any COVID-19 patient among the pilgrims for medical treatment. On the other hand, the Saudi Civil Defence forces will be ready to provide security to the pilgrims as they make their way to the holy place.

“All parties involved are carrying out their tasks to handle any risks according to the general plan for the Haj pilgrimage,” said The commander of the Civil Defense for Hajj, Maj. Gen. Hamoud Al Faraj.

Saudi authorities have limited the number pilgrims attending this year’s Haj to 1,000 to contain the spread of COVID-19. However, some local reports state that as many as 10,000 pilgrims will be performing the Hajj.

Kaaba Kiswa replaced

The Saudi Press Agency reported that the Kiswa of the Kaabah was replaced Wednesday night and in accordance with tradition, the process was administered by the staff of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.

In a statement, the deputy head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques said that the Kaabah had been cloaked with a new Kiswa which comprised of four sides and a sitar (curtain) for the door.

“The process began from the side of the Hateem (a semi-circular wall opposite the northwest wall of the Kaaba), because Al-Mizab (a rainwater spout made of gold) requires a special opening at the top. After consolidating all the sides, the corners were fixed by sewing them from the top of the cloth to the bottom,” he said.

As many as 200 Saudi craftsmen are engaged in producing the black curtain at the King Abdul Aziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa, Al-Mansouri said.

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July 30: In a biggest-spike in deaths in 24 hours, Jammu and Kashmir reported seventeen more COVID-19 deaths since last night, taking the fatality count due to the virus in J&K to 366, officials said on Thursday.

Among them, 16 deaths were reported from Kashmir, mostly from Srinagar which continues to top the list with highest number of fatalities, while one death occurred in Jammu.

They said that while nine deaths took place in this summer capital of the J&K, three victims belonged to Shopian while one death each was reported from Baramulla, Kulgam, Budgam and Jammu.

They said that four deaths took place at CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of the covid-19 patients, and five took place in the SKIMS Soura including a 55-year-old CRPF trooper, while two persons died at Government Medical College Baramulla and one, an 80-year-old man from Shopian, at District Hospital Pulwama and his age-mate from the same district at SMHS hospital here.

They said that a 53-year-old woman Ashagipora Anantnag died, a day after she was admitted to SKIMS hospital.

The four other deaths reported at SKIMS Soura include a 75-year-old woman from Shivpora Srinagar, a 72-year-old man from Batamallo Srinagar, a 60-year-old man from Srinagar besides the CRPF trooper from 198 battalion, a senior doctor at the tertiary care hospital told GNS.

The deaths reported from CD hospital include a 50-year-old woman from Batamaloo Srinagar, a 70-year- old Keegam Shopian, a man from Humhama Budgam and a 65-year-old man from Naseembagh Srinagar.

A senior doctor at CD hospital said that the woman from Keegam Shopian had severe “pneumonia with hypothyroidism and the patient was ventilator.”

“She developed sudden cardiopulmonary arrest at 2 a.m. today. The CPR was done but she could not be revived,” the doctor said.

Regarding the quinquagenarian from Batamaloo, the doctor said that the patient had bilateral Community Acquired Pneumonia.   “The woman was suffering from hypertension and hypothyroidism,” the doctor said, adding, “The patient had cardiopulmonary arrest at 7 a.m. on July 30 and was declared dead after 45 minutes.”

Regarding the man from Humhama Budgam, the doctor said that he was suffering from “bilateral pneumonia with hypothyroidism.”

“He was on mechanical ventilator and developed sudden cardiopulmonary arrest at 1:20 a.m. today and was declared death after 15 minutes,” the doctor said.

As regards the man from Naseembagh Srinagar, the doctor he was suffering from pneumonia with hypertension “He was on mechanical ventilator and was extubated twice.  He had sudden cardiopulmonary arrest last night and he could not be revived.”

The other deaths include a 70-year old woman from Delina, a 75-year-old man from Kreeri Baramulla besides two octogenarian men from Muldare and Turkawangam.

A doctor at District hospital Pulwama told GNS that the octogenarian from Muldora Shopian was having chest diseases along with comorbidities. The 80-year-old from Turkawangam died at SMHS hospital, three days after he was admitted there. “He was suffering from pneumonia and had comorbidities,” a senior doctor at the hospital said.

Regarding the septuagenarians from Delina and Kreei respectively, sources said that both of them were suffering from bilateral pneumonia and died on the same day, July 29, at GMC Baramulla. One of them, 70-year-old woman from Delina, remained admitted for three days before the death while the 75-year-old from Kreeri was admitted on July 27.

Regarding the Kulgam death, they said, that a 60-year-old man from the Damhal area of district who died on July 28 was included in the list by the government today.

Meanwhile, a 56-year-old woman from Shastri Nagar Jammu who was brought death to GMC Jammu yesterday, tested positive on Thursday.

“She was a known case of t2 diabetes mellitus and had high fever AND COUGH 3 days back, “a doctor at GMC Jammu told GNS, adding, “Rapid antigen test was done as well as RTPCR test and it reported positive.

So far 339 deaths have been reported in Kashmir and 26 in Jammu division. Srinagar district with 113 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla (68), Kulgam (28), Budgam (26), Anantnag (25), Shopian (23), Kupwara (20), Pulwama (19), Jammu (17), Bandipora (12), Ganderbal (6), two each in Rajouri and Doda and one each in Ramban , Poonch, Udhampur, and Kathua. (GNS)

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, July 30: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday recorded   450 fresh cases of COVID-19, this taking the tally of the infected persons in the Union Territory to 19869, officials said.
They said fresh cases include 83 from Jammu and 367 from Kashmir .
Moreover, 520 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, 189 from Jammu and 331 from Kashmir, officials added.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 19869 positive cases, 7662 are Active Positive, 11842 have recovered and 365 have died; 26 in Jammu division and 339 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 627387 test results available, 607518 samples have been tested as negative till July 30, 2020.

Additionally, till date 366937 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for observation which included 47281 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 6 in Hospital Quarantine, 7662 in hospital isolation and 40583 under home surveillance. Besides, 271040 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Bandipora has 711 positive cases (including 33 cases reported today) with 247 Active Positive, 452 recovered (including 17 cases recovered today) and 12 deaths; Srinagar has 4658 positive cases (including 183 cases reported today) with 2658 Active Positive, 1887 recovered (including 79 cases recovered today), 113 deaths; Anantnag district has 1278 positive cases (including 20 cases reported today) with 260 Active Positive, 994 recovered (including 44 cases recovered today),  24 deaths; Baramulla has 1877 positive cases (including 42 cases reported today) with 500 Active Positive, 1309 recovered, 68 deaths; Shopian has 1422 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today) with 268 Active Positive, 1131 recovered (including 65 cases recovered today) and 23 deaths; Kupwara has 1085 positive cases (including 16 cases reported today) with 274 Active Positive, 791 recovered  (including 47 cases recovered today) and 20 deaths; Budgam has 1248 positive cases (including 20 cases reported today) with 522 Active Positive and 700 recovered cases (including 20 cases recovered today) and 26 deaths; Ganderbal has 401 positive cases (including 13 cases reported today) with 135 active positive cases and 260 recoveries (including 17 cases recovered today) and 06 deaths; Kulgam has 1493 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 297 Active Positive and 1168 recoveries (including 06 cases recovered today) and 28 deaths and Pulwama reported 1395 positive cases (including 32 cases reported today) with 651 active positive cases and 725 recovered (including 36 cases recovered today) and 19 deaths.

Similarly, Jammu has 1027 positive cases (including 38 cases reported today) with 465 active positive cases and 545 recoveries (including 17 cases recovered today) and 17 deaths; Udhampur has 436 positive cases (including 09 cases reported today)   with 107 active positive cases, 328 recovered (including 25 cases recovered today) and 01 death; Samba has 407 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 163 Active Positive and 243 recoveries (including 22 cases recovered today) and 01 death; Rajouri has 646 positive cases (including 13 cases reported today) with 398 active positive cases and 246 recovered (including 27 cases recovered today) and 02 deaths; Kathua has 511 positive cases with 180 Active positive and 330 recovered and 01 death; Kishtwar has 136 positive cases  (including 02 cases reported today) with 82 active positive cases and 54 recovered; Ramban has 534 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 193 active positive and  340 recoveries (including 88 cases recovered today) and 01 death; Reasi has 126 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 68 active positive and 58 recovered; Poonch has 209 positive cases (including 12 cases reported today) with 66 active positive and 142 recoveries (including 02 cases recovered today) and 01 death while Doda has 269 positive cases  (including 04 cases reported today) with 128 active positive cases and 139 recoveries (including 08 recoveries today)and 02 deaths.

According to the bulletin, of the total 19869 positive cases in J&K 4273 have been reported as travelers while 15596 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.

Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar, July 30: The deadly pandemic has engulfed entire Kashmir in a way that not a single medical block is virus free, officials told KNO on Thursday.

They said that COVID-19 positive cases have poured in from all 68 medical blocks of Kashmir division and no area is virus free. An official said that Srinagar district which has 13 medical blocks has reported around 4500 positive cases and these cases were recorded in all blocks and zones of the district.

He said that Anantnag district which comprises of seven medical blocks including Achabal, Bijbehara, Larnoo, Mattan, Sallar, Shangus and Verinag has reported 1258 cases so far and no block is virus free.

He said that Pulwama district which once was declared Covid free has four medical blocks including Pulwama, Pampore, Tral and Rajpora and all four blocks have 1363 positive cases and cases are from every block.

He said that Kulgam district has been divided into five Medical blocks— Kulgam, Qaimoh ,DH Pora , Qazigund and Yaripora that have 1491 positive cases which belong to every block.

“Shopian district has 1416 positive cases and these cases are from all three blocks including Shopian, Keller and Zainapora,” the official said.

Bandipora has reported so far 678 cases which are from its all three blocks including Bandipora, Gurez and Hajin, the officials said.  “Baramulla has 09 medical blocks and 1835 reported cases so far are from every block of the district,” an official said.

Kupwara and Budgam districts have 10 medical blocks each with positive cases 1069 and 1228 respectively and no block in twin districts is virus free, he said, adding that Ganderbal district which has reported so far 387 positive cases and these cases were reported from all four blocks of the district.

Pertinently, out of 19419 positive cases reported, 15201 are from Kashmir which are 78.28 percent of the total positive cases.

Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Samir Matoo said that there are 68 medical blocks in Kashmir division and positive cases have been reported almost from every block of Kashmir division.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, July 30: In an important modification in the protocol for positives of Covid- 19 infection and their contacts, Jammu and Kashmir Government today revised home isolation guidelines to permit such patients for home quarantine who are asymptomatic with no comorbidity and are not vulnerable otherwise.

An order issued by Health & Medical Education Department in this regard asked Divisional, District as well as designated institutions and hospitals which include SKIMS Soura, Srinagar, Govt. Medical Colleges of Jammu, Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Kathua and Rajouri and Director Health Services Kashmir/Jammu to follow the revised guidelines.

All such patients shall be permitted for home quarantine provided   they have separate room available in their home;  have downloaded Aarogya Setu application on their phones; besides such patients will be provided with Oximeter to monitor their oxygen saturation and in the event of drop of the Oxygen level below 90% they shall immediately be hospitalized; a poster shall be pasted outside their home displaying therein that the resident has been quarantined and reach out teams shall be constituted by the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu / Kashmir to monitor health status of the patient.

“Further, it is permitted to dispense with present practice of administrative quarantine of contacts of COVID positive patients. All asymptomatic contacts of COVID-19 patient will be allowed home quarantine and tested on the sixth day of the contact,” the Order said and added that in case, the test of the contact returns positive, defined protocol for COVID-19 shall be followed.

SEC revises COVID-19 protocol for travellers

Meanwhile, the State Executive Committee (SEC),  has issued revised quarantine procedures and protocols to be followed for  all incoming passengers by air, rail and Road into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The SOPs regarding COVID testing have been revised by the SEC in exercise of powers conferred upon it under Section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 in supersession of all previous orders, instructions and protocols on the subject keeping in view the minimal positivity rate among Rail and Air travellers.

The revised guidelines read that all passengers arriving by Air, Rail or Road into the UT of J&K shall be 100 per cent tested for COVID 19 antigen using the RTPCR or Rapid Antigen test or any other prescribed method.

All Air and Rail passengers who have a valid contactable mobile number with the Aarogya Setu application downloaded on their phones shall be sent for Home Quarantine for 14 days or till their test results are reported negative, after their sampling is done as per the protocol in use, in case of Air or Rail passengers without a valid contactable Phone number with the Aarogya Setu app downloaded on their phones, they will be sent to Administrative/institutional Quarantine or Paid Quarantine for 14 days or till their test results are reported negative, in which case they are released for Home Quarantine.

In the event of any such Air or Rail passengers testing positive, the protocol with regard to COVID-19 positive patients will be followed.

The existing practice of 100 per cent Institutional/Administrative/Paid Quarantine for 14 days of all passengers till the test results are received shall, however, continue in case of Road travellers who arrive in a regulated manner at Lakhanpur.

The testing and quarantine procedures prescribed above will be applicable to all air travelers from a Red district to an Orange/Green district within UT of J&K.

Additionally, some identified categories of passengers arriving by any means other than rail / air from outside the UT into the UT of Jammu and Kashmir will be sampled on arrival for COVID-19 RTPCR or Rapid Antigen testing or other approved methods and sent to Home Quarantine for 14 days; and, if their test result is positive, will be treated as per the existing protocol for COVID-19 positive patients. The categories included Pregnant women in the last trimester, with a doctor’s certificate of pregnancy, Cancer patients on chemotherapy, Chronically ill/organ transplant/IVF patients discharged from a hospital after a surgical procedure, Dialysis patients with a doctor’s certificate of being on dialysis, Mothers with infants below 1 year, Children below 10 years travelling alone without a family member, Government of India personnel on bona fide government duty, Passengers/travellers with an RTPCR TEST Negative Certificate from an ICMR approved laboratory/testing facility, not older than 2 days (48 hours) before the arrival date, Business travellers by air/rail to J&K on business/industrial visits, with a confirmed return air/rail ticket booking within 4 days, confirmed hotel reservation and a business ID and Business travellers by road to J&K on business/industrial visits, with an undertaking to return within 4 days, a confirmed hotel reservation and a business ID, ambulance drivers of J&K dropping patients outside the UT, on their return, if they return within 36 hours.

The new procedures also said that business travellers to J&K on business/industrial visits, with a confirmed return air ticket booking, confirmed hotel reservation and a business ID will proceed to their hotel from the airport and restrict their interactions to the business purpose for which they have come. They will however be sampled on arrival for the COVlD-19 antigen and, if their test result is positive, will be treated as per the existing protocol for COViD-19 positive patients. They shall also be required to maintain complete details of the persons whom they came in contact with during their stay in J&K.

Besides, the personnel of Defense and Central Armed Police Forces returning to duty, including transit labour hired by BRO to go to Ladakh, are exempted from compulsory 100 per cent COV1D-19 antigen testing and administrative/institutional quarantine in any facility authorized by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. The said personnel shall be allowed to proceed to the institutional quarantine of their respective Units/Formations for necessary quarantine as per their internal procedures.

Any violation of these instructions will attract penalties under the Disaster Management Act-2005 and other provisions of Law.

Pertinently, the existing instructions of J&K Government on the subject mandated 100 per cent administrative and institutional quarantine or paid quarantine for 14 days, of all incoming passengers by Air, Rail and Road or till their COVID-19 antigen test results are reported negative, in which case they are released for Home Quarantine, or if positive, in which case they are sent to a COVID hospital for recovery and treatment.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, July 30:  The Jammu and Kashmir government, in an effort to ensure effective management of COVID-19 Pandemic, has ordered that all hospitals of Kashmir Province including SKIMS Srinagar, SKIMS Medical College Bemina and others shall work directly under the Administrative Control of Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education Department and shall adhere to all orders and instructions issued by him till the pandemic is over.

Precious Kashmir News

Pulwama, July 30: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided the house of a truck driver, who was arrested in April this year, in Awantipora area of south Kashmir.

The truck driver identified as Hilal Ahmed Wagay was arrested in April along with one Ranjit Singh from Sirsa Haryana. Police had seized his truck (JK03F-2261) as well. NIA had claimed that both Hilal and Ranjit were close aides of slain Hizbul Mujhadeen commander Riyaz Naiko.

Official sources said NIA sleuths along with local police raided the house of truck driver Hilal at Khandaypora area Awantipora in Pulwama district.

They said a thorough search of the house was conducted but no objectionable material has been recovered.

Punjab Police had arrested Hilal Ahmad Wagay with Rs 29 lakh in cash in Amritsar on 25 April and handed him over to NIA. NIA claimed that a group was active in narco trade in Punjab and the money was being transported to the Kashmir valley to be handed over to Hizbul Mujhadeen.  (KNT)