New Delhi, July 29: With an aim to ease the burden on the hospitals during the pandemic, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in one of its guidelines said that persons clinically categorised as having very mild or pre-symptomatic (COVID-19) will have the option of home isolation provided they have the requisite facility at their residence.

According to a report by Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India as 80 per cent of COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic or showing mild symptoms.

“Thanks to the government guidelines, we have been providing home isolation services to Fortis Hospital across the country, and also collaborated with the corporate like Tata, Dabur, ABFL and insurance companies for our HIP to manage the asymptomatic as well as the patients with mild symptoms. We have developed a customised Home Isolation Programme (HIP) under two caps — ‘COVID Essentials’ and ‘COVID Advanced.’ The former is meant ‘for low-risk individuals’ and the latter ‘for high-risk individuals. Home isolation is feasible and affordable for everyone. And, this will also decrease the burden on hospitals”, Mr Vivek Srivastava, Co-Founder & CEO of HealthCare atHome (HCAH) said in a press release issued today.

As the number of mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients has been increasing gradually, it seems that 90 per cent of the patients will be treated through home isolation care considering its affordability and feasibility.

Health Care at Home (HCAH) is the first company, which has developed a meticulously designed Home Isolation Programme (HIP).

“We have been receiving overwhelming responses from patients amidst the COVID-19 panic as they are approaching us considering the feasibility of Home Isolation Programme (HIP). We provide complete training and education ‘On how to live in Home Isolation’ with IEC material. Caregivers are also available round the clock”, Dr Gaurav, COO, HealthCare atHOME (HCAH) said.

Subsequently, testing was done via hassle-free sample collection at home. rest, our HIP team has managed remotely with the fast recovery of the patient”, Dr Thukral said, adding, “In the last three months, the number of queries for our Home Isolation Programme (HIP) has increased significantly as we are receiving 250-300 queries per day. So far, we have treated over four thousand patients through our HIP.

Amid the chronic shortage of hospital beds almost everywhere, Home isolation services turn out to be the most preferred and feasible choice. Recently, the UP government has decided to allow home isolation for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients under certain conditions.

Regarding the allowance of home isolation for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Awanish Kumar Awasthi said, “So far, home isolation was not allowed in the state. But now we have decided to allow it with certain conditions and norms. He also added that there is an adequate number of beds in COVID- designated hospitals in the state, and the decision to allow home isolation was made based on ‘requests from people.”

Mubashir Aalam Wani

Srinagar, July 29: The frequent closure of weekly flea market since past over six months as resulted in the huge losses of worth Rs 4.80 Crore to the vendors leaving their families on the verge of starvation.

The three-km-long market from Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) to Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), including Lal Chowk has been closed since February this year after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir.

The street vendors who were erecting their stalls on the busiest market on every Sunday told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they have suffered a loss of Rs 4.80 Crores approximately in last four months, adding that each vendor has suffered a loss of Rs 20,000 per month.

“I was earning Rs 5,000 on every Sunday and now it has been over four six months almost when I have not earned a single penny and I don’t even have the other source of income as well,” Showkat Ahmed, a vendor said. “It’s not only me who is facing such a situation, but my family and the people who were directly or indirectly earning their bread and butter from Sunday market have been facing similar situations since the closure of the busiest market.”

He said that there are almost 600 to 700 vendors with almost 1200 ‘beds’, who were earning from Sunday market and have no source left now for earning livelihood,” he said.

It’s not only from the last four months only, but the busiest market is closed for a long time. The market is shut since the abrogation of Article 370 on Aug 5 last.

Abdur Rehman, another vendor said that  a meager compensation will not help them to survive, but the government needs to come up with alternate solutions to allow the street vendors to erect their stalls. “We should be allowed to resume our activities on Sundays with strict adherence to the SOPs. We will also follow the health guidelines in spirit, but the government should consider allowing us to resume our activities,” he said adding that their families are already on the verge of starvation and if government won’t listen to their grievances, situation may take an ugly turn and their family members would have no option other than to beg.

Srinagar, July 29: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday said deceased Bandipora doctor is the first possible case of COVID-19 re-infection in Kashmir Valley.

“The medico had tested positive again after his recovery from COVID-19 infection,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan said in a statement .

“The 46-year-old doctor from Sumbal area of Bandipora district had tested positive for COVID-19 infection on July 04 and was reported negative on July 15. About two weeks later on Monday, he developed severe respiratory symptoms and was admitted in SMHS hospital with bilateral pneumonia where he died the next day. The doctor tested positive again to the virus on Tuesday after his death,” he said.

Dr. Nisar said the case has raised concern over re-infection among patients who have been declared clear of the disease. “This gives us to understand that people who had COVID-19 can get sick again,” he said.

Dr Nisar said there have been reports that people who recover are getting infected with the virus again. “160 cases in South Korea who had recovered from the disease were tested positive for the virus again,” he said.

“About 15 percent of recovered patients in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen were retested positive for the virus,” he added.

Dr Nisar said “we were under the impression that if a person gets infected with the virus, he/she will develop antibodies and will not get the disease again. But many people who recover from Covid do not develop antibodies.

“A study has shown that about a third of people who had recovered from the virus had very low or even undetectable levels of protective antibodies against the virus.” “Low levels of antibodies will affect the herd immunity and will have implications on vaccine development,” said Dr Nisar—(KNO)

New Delhi: Night curfew has been scrapped altogether and gyms and yoga institutes that are not in containment zones have been allowed to reopen in Unlock3 — the third phase of lifting of coronavirus-related restrictions across the country — declared by the government today. But restrictions remained in place in all other spheres that involve large gatherings – be it educational institutions, public parks or cinema halls.

The announcement came as India logged more than 15 lakh coronavirus cases and the daily spike in cases grew close to 50,000. Most states, especially those which have had a large spike in cases, have imposed lockdown on and off over the past month.

In the fresh Central guidelines issued today, the government said schools, colleges and educational institutions will remain shut till the end of August.

Metro rail operations, cinema halls, swimming polls, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums and other places which involve large gatherings, will also remain shut.

Independence Day functions, however, will be held with strict protective measures like social distancing in place, the government said.

The vulnerable section of the population — children below the age of 10 and seniors above the age of 65, pregnant women and those with chronic ailments including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart and kidney ailments — have been advised to stay home.

The country logged 48,513 fresh coronavirus infections this morning — the tally of over the last 24 hours, which takes the total to 15,31,669 cases, data from the Union Health Ministry showed.There has been and 768 fatalities, showing 34,193 have died since the beginning of the pandemic. (Agencies)

Srinagar, July 29: Amid all the talk about restoration of high-speed internet, the authorities on Wednesday extended till August 19 the ban on the 4G services in Jammu and Kashmir which completes one year on August 5.

In an order issued by the principal Secretary Home, the government said that restrictions on access to internet through mobile data services have been “necessitated” in view of its “misuse in planning and executing (militant) acts including attacks on security forces, political workers and innocent civilians, propagation of ideologies inimical to the interests of the country, misguiding the youth to join (militant) ranks, communicating and coordinating with handlers across the border to facilitate infiltration.”

“There are inputs suggesting rise in the anti-national activities over the coming weeks, more so in view of completion of an year since implementation of the constitutional changes viz-a-viz J&K, Independence day celebrations, etc,” reads the order.

Subsequently, the Principal Secretary said that it was “absolutely necessary in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the Security of the State and for maintaining public order,” the internet access across J&K shall be made available with 2G only.

“The directions shall remain in force upto 19 August, 2020, unless modified earlier. The IGP, Kashmir/Jammu shall ensure communication of these directions to the service providers and ensure implementation of these directions forthwith,” the order added. (GNS)

HC notice to JK Bank on plea by ex-servicemen

Srinagar, July 29: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday issued notice returnable within a week on a plea filed by ex-servicemen against Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s notification for Banking Associates regarding ex-servicemen to the extent of 6% Horizontal Reservation.

A bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey also directed the premier Bank to open online registration of applications for the petitioners for four days starting from July 30 to “enable them submit the application forms on their own risk and responsibility.”

“Prima facie it appears that the Bank has mutatis mutandis applied reservation rules of the UT to the recruitment process qua Exservicemen also but there is no protection of the pay scale by mentioning revised which amounts to depriving the petitioners to the extent of 6% (horizontal reservation),” the court said and issued notice returnable within one week.

While listing of the petition on August 7, the court directed the Bank to open online registration of applications for the petitioners for four days from July 30 to enable them to submit the application forms on their own risk and responsibility. “The same shall be subject to further orders of this Court,” the court said as per GNS.

In their plea filed through advocate Arif Sikander, the petitioners submitted that are aggrieved of the online notification dated 02.07.2020 bearing advertisement No. JKB/HRD/Rectt/2020-73 issued by bank, advertising the posts of Banking Associates for recruitment.

The online registration of application and payment of fee for the posts was scheduled from July 2 to July 24 to the extent of mentioning the revised pay scale of post for reservation of ex-servicemen to the extent of 6% (Horizontal Reservation) as per reservation policy of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, the petitioners said.

Advocate Skiander submitted that the benefit of reservation rules notified in the year 2004 has been applied to the J&K by the Bank for the present recruitment process which is evident from Clause 8 of the advertisement notice.

He submitted that though reservation benefit was made available to Ex-servicemen, they are “deprived because of the revised pay scale which is more than prescribed pay scale of Rs. 10,500.”

He said that pay scale as regards the reservation of ex-servicemen was in terms of 5th pay commission and the pay scale has been revised twice since then in terms of 6th and 7th pay commission. “The Government of J&K has not processed the amendment in the pay scale qua revision of pay which prejudices the right of the petitioners,” he submitted. He said that all the selection authorities of J&K while issuing notification for advertisement of posts, are mentioning the pre-revised pay scale  regarding entitlement of ex-servicemen, as has been done by the J&K Service Selection Board while advertising the post of Accountant Assistant (Panchayat) in Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, on July 6. (GNS)

Zaffer Iqbal

Uri, July 29: A 26-year- old Army porter was killed on Wednesday afternoon in a sniper fire by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control in Uri sector of north Kashmir Baramulla district, a senior Police officer told GNS.

The porter has been identified as Altaf Hussain son of Suluman Sussain (26) of Gohalan village of Uri.

The porter, he said, was working with Army’s 11 Mahar unit and was posted with Tika Rajput, Lachipora post along LoC. “He was killed in sniper fire by Pakistani troops in violation of the ceasefire,” the officer added.

Owais Gul

Srinagar, July 29: As Covid-19 pandemic shows no signs of getting away, the deadly virus has thrown open the gory memory lane of 1868 pandemic when people of entire J&K spent Eid-ul-Azha (festival of sacrifices) by sitting in their homes. History has got repeated after almost passing of a century.

As per the historians, it was in 1868, when the people of Kashmir were reeling under similar circumstances due to the prevalence of pandemic, they spent Eid indoors. Since then, till date, no such calamity ever struck the Valley when people observed the festival of sacrifices by remaining confined to homes. This year, people already celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr  amid pandemic—no extravaganza was seen any where and markets, restaurants remained shut.

A prominent historian from Kashmir, Zareef Ahmad Zareef while talking to KNO said that the last three generations of Kashmir have never witnessed such a situation on the eve of Muslim holy festival—Eid-ul-Azha

“People in Kashmir have witnessed pandemic twice so far—one in 1868 and another in 1918,” he said, adding that the outbreak of virus took place in the Valley during Dogra rule in October 1868 and continued for two years. “The people at that point of time celebrated four Eids, amid the pandemic. But, after 1870, the Muslims in the Valley have never witnessed such a situation on Eid eve till now,” he said.

“Zareef further stated that in 1918 during the period of Mirwaiz Muhammad Ahmadullah Sahab, at least 6.5 lakh people were residing in Kashmir, but soon after the outbreak of virus, that was called Hawa-e-Raddi, only 2.5 lakh Kashmiris remained here while the others either died or left the Valley to save their lives. In 1918, Eid was celebrated as pandemic was over when the festival arrived.

“It is for the first time in over a century that Eid is being celebrated amid the pandemic,” he said while appealing to people to follow guidelines till the situation is controlled and the vaccine is out to treat the patients getting infected. “We have nothing in our hands but can only do Tauba Istagfaar (prayers for repentance) and take precautions,” he said.

On the eve of Eid, the markets would otherwise witness hustle bustle with people coming out to buy essentials and other things including the sacrificial animals.

However, unlike previous years, no such rush of shoppers could be witnessed in the markets. Earlier, a similar situation was witnessed on Eid-ul-Fitr, celebrated two months back in Jammu and Kashmir due to the outbreak of the virus.

Dr. Javaid-ul-Aziz, Assistant Professor in history said that the epidemic was also witnessed in the Valley almost a century ago, adding that the strict instructions were also given to the people at that time to follow the guidelines to end the plague.

He said that the then rulers had also taken measures to combat the disease, adding that the travel between Kashmir and other parts of the country was also being monitored.

“On the eve of festivals, the level of celebration varied from time to time. Precautions were also taken at that time to save precious lives amid the outbreak of plague,” he said.

Pertinently, the Coronavirus outbreak took place in Jammu and Kashmir in March this year and has so far claimed over 337 lives and infected nearly 19,000 people in the Union Territory.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, July 29: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Wednesday discussed several issues pertaining to the Revenue Department including vacant posts of Revenue Officers while chairing a ‘Revenue Conference’.

During the meeting, the Div Com said that vacant posts of Tehsildars shall be filled soon in all districts for the smooth functioning of Revenue offices besides he also added that the department has referred vacant non-gazetted posts to the recruitment agency for early fill up.

The Div Com on the occasion directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure immediate transfer of all overstayed employees in the revenue department and asked them to ensure that employees stay at same place for maximum three years only.

Stressing on the timely resolution of revenue related issues, the Div Com said that he will conduct region wise monthly meetings for detailed review from all districts.

He said that all Revenue Officers should gear up and start conducting administrative inspections and staff inspections to bring the department back on the track.

Emphasising on holding regular interaction with lumberdars, the Div Com instructed concerned to initiate fresh exercise of deciding jurisdictions and make the addition or deletions as per the requirement to all frontline workers including Patwaris, Chokidars and Lumberdars.

The Div Com stressed for timely completion of all pending enquiries and directed concerned enquiry officers to initiate administrative action as per the law against any such officer or an official who fails to cooperate thereby sabotaging the enquiry process.

For timely redressal of employees grievances, the Div Com said that all genuine issues related to promotion, APRs and accommodations shall be discussed for prompt disposal in monthly meetings.

The Div Com emphasized on early land acquisition and land transfers and fund disbursement in Semi Ring Road and in case of other projects.

Stressing on launching a sustained demolition drive for removal of illegal encroachments of state, kahcharai, forest and departmental land, the Div Com called for proper demarcation and handover of the retrieved land besides he added that he will be taking monthly review of land retrieving and removal of encroachments.

Taking stock of Roshni cases, the Div Com instructed concerned to ensure removal of all illegal entries from records and on the ground and added that the same details should be submitted by the DCs to the Div Com office accordingly.

The Div Com emphasized on timely completion of all revenue related records including Jambandi, Girdawari, mutation deeds, Naqshe intekhab, demarcation and disposing of all pending cases and enquiries.

He stressed on providing timely compensation to the victims who have suffered losses in natural calamities or manmade disasters and added that the time of providing relief to the victims for their property damage or loss of life should not exceed one week.

The Div Com further directed DCs to deploy additional staff for digitization of records of their districts besides holding revenue camps for easy redressal of revenue issues of the public at their doorsteps.

The Div Com on the occasion also reviewed the migrant land issues besides others.

Among others, the meeting was attended by AC Bilal Ahmad Bhat, AC Tasaduq Hussain Mir, ADC Srinkant Balasahab and other Revenue officers.

DCs, ACRs and other revenue officers also attended the meeting through video Conferencing.

Suhail Khan

SRINAGAR, July 29: After remaining closed for six days, markets in Srinagar opened on Wednesday with people seen not following social distancing norms.

Government on Wednesday eased out restrictions ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

However, what was seen, no social distancing was being maintained in markets especially in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk.

“This is pathetic to see such a large number of people shopping. Some are even not wearing masks. I came out to purchase medicines for my ailing father but no social distance norms are being followed,” Shahid Ahmad, a resident of Batamaloo told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

In Srinagar’s Gonikhan market, hundreds of people, especially females were seen shopping without maintaining any social distance.

Customers were seen moving from one shop to another without following the social distancing norms. Most of the shops were over-crowded.

“This is scary to walk through Gonikhan market. Government eased out restrictions so people purchase essential items for Eid. But people are thronging markets unnecessarily,” said Rafiya Bano, a resident of Dalgate.

“People are thronging markets without following norms which is a matter of grave concern,” said a shopkeeper at Batamaloo He said it was important to underline the importance of strictly following the COVID protocols.

Some shopkeepers have arranged sanitisers so that customers would disinfect their hands before purchasing.

Hundreds of people could be seen on the streets or on Boulevard along the banks of Dal Lake without wearing masks or maintaining social distance.

This is despite authorities having announced that wearing masks was mandatory in all public places.

“Looks hundreds of vendors are selling barbecues and fried fish on the banks of Dal Lake. Neither these sellers nor customers are wearing masks. I do wear a mask to protect myself but it won’t make any difference as less than 10 percent of people are wearing masks,” Imran Ahmad, a resident of Nishat.

He said the government should take strict measures to ensure people wear masks. “If wearing a mask has been made mandatory they are why law enforcing agencies are not implementing these guidelines. Why don’t they fine those who are not following COVID guidelines,” he asked.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole said it was mandatory to wear masks. “People should not come out of their homes without wearing masks. They should properly cover their mouth and nose. If people don’t wear masks, they will infect others,” he told KINS.

The government advisory has 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,” it reads.(KINS)