New Delhi, June 13 : India has reported over three lakh cases of the highly infectious COVID-19 disease, caused by the COVID-19, days after the government announced its “Unlock1” plan. The cases rose 2,903 today to reach 3,04,019. Maharashtra has the highest cases in India with 1,01,141, followed by Tamil Nadu with 40,698 and Delhi with 34,687. India has the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases among 10 nations worst-hit by coronavirus, for which no vaccine has been developed yet. The death count rose to 8,498 with a record single-day spike of 396 fatalities.

Srinagar, June 12: Srinagar Municipal Corporation has decided to conduct the floor test for the post of Mayor in some days.

Sources told KNS that Srinagar Municipal Corporation has decided to conduct the floor test after they found that no floor test was conducted in last six months.

” Conducting floor test once is six months is mandatory,” a top SMC official told KNS.

” There is no such record of floor test as claimed by the Mayor,” he added.

Meanwhile, after an independent corporator moved a petition before SMC seeking floor test of Mayor, the SMC authorities have decided to conduct the floor test within some days.

The SMC Commissioner has written to Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to allow the assembly of corporator for floor test.

When contacted SMC Commissioner Gazanafar Ali, confirmed that they have written to DC Srinagar and would go for floor test as soon as permission is granted for allowing assembly of corporators.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, June 11: The COVID-19 death toll in Jammu and Kashmir mounted to 52 on Thursday after a 62-year old woman from south Kashmir’s Kulgam passed away here this morning, even as 67 more persons tested positive for the COVID-19 across the Union Territory taking the number of infected persons to 4574.
An official said that  the 62-year-old woman, a resident of Kulgam, was admitted to S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on June 7 for Acute Cholecystitis (a syndrome of right upper quadrant pain, fever, and leukocytosis associated with gallbladder inflammation) with hepatic flexure growth. “The patient had tested positive for COVID-19 and was shifted to an isolation ward on June 8,” they said.
They said that the woman suffered a massive heart attack and died on Thursday.
With this, 16 people have lost their lives due to infection in one week, and 37 people in 23 days in J&K.
Ten districts of Jammu have reported five fatalities while 47 people have lost their lives due to COVID-19 in ten districts of Kashmir.
With this fatality, the death toll in Kulgam has risen to eight. Srinagar is the worst affected district with 12 deaths, followed by Baramulla with 10 fatalities. Kulgam stands at number three with eight deaths while five people have lost their lives due to the infection in Anantnag.

JK reports 67 new positive cases, 1820 recover so far

Meanwhile, the Government on Thursday informed that 67 new positive cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), 24 from Jammu division and 43 from Kashmir division, were reported today thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 4574. Moreover, 149 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals, 30 from Jammu Division and 119 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), out of 4574 positive cases, 2702 are Active Positive, 1820 have recovered and 52 have died; 05 in Jammu division and 47 in Kashmir division.
The bulletin further said that out of 247267 test results available, 242693 samples have been tested as negative till June 11, 2020.
Additionally, till date 227016 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance which included 41312 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 25 in Hospital Quarantine, 2702 in hospital isolation and 55395 under home surveillance. Besides, 127530 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Bandipora has 233 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 67 Active Positive, 165 recovered (including 29 cases recovered today), 01 death; Srinagar has 497 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 334 Active Positive, 151 recovered, 12 deaths; Anantnag district has 482 positive cases (including 13 cases reported today), with 162 Active Positive, 315 recovered (including 10 cases recovered today),  05 deaths; Baramulla has 497 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 325 Active Positive, 162 recovered (including 40 case recovered today), 10 deaths; Shopian has 440 positive cases with 265 Active Positive, 171 recovered and 04 deaths; Kupwara has 376 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 127 Active Positive, 246 recovered (including 14 cases reported today) and 03 deaths; Budgam has 214 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today), with 132 Active Positive and 80 recovered cases (including 01 case recovered today) and 02 deaths; Ganderbal has 59 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 27 active positive cases and 32 recoveries (including 06 cases recovered today); Kulgam has 568 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today), with 392 Active Positive and  168 recoveries (including 07 cases recovered today) and 08 deaths and Pulwama reported 199 positive cases (including 09 cases reported today) with 165 active positive cases and 32 recovered (including 12 cases recovered today) and 02 deaths.
Similarly, Jammu has 253 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 143 active positive cases and 107 recoveries (including 02 cases recovered today) and 03 deaths; Udhampur has 153 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 117 active positive cases, 35 recovered and 01 death; Samba has 69 positive cases with 41 Active Positive and 28 recoveries (including 04 cases recovered today); Rajouri has 58 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 46 active positive cases and 12 recovered; Kathua has 123 positive cases with 74 Active positive and 49 recovered; Kishtwar has 21 positive cases with 17 active positive cases and 04 recovered; Ramban has 172 positive cases with 149 active positive and 23 recoveries; Reasi has 23 positive cases with 13 active positive and 10 recovered (including 05 cases recovered today), Poonch has 91 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today) with 63 active positive and 28 recoveries (including 19 cases recovered today) while Doda has 46 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 43 active positive cases and 02 recoveries and 01 death.
According to the bulletin, of the total 4574 positive cases in J&K 1631 have been reported as travelers while 2943 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 Coronavirus 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.

Sajid Maqbool

Srinagar, June 11: When everyone was scared and remained confined to their homes due to the outbreak of Covid-19, a speacially-abled Jammu and Kashmir police cop in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district stood up and provided meals to Covid-19 suspects here.

Mohammad Rafeeq a resident of Bandipora who is working in police department was left disabled permanently in a mine blast in 2002.

Despite the disability, Rafeeq’s courage has not diminished and he is still doing his duty with passion.

He has been running a police canteen, inside mini-secretariat premises, which was handed over to him two years ago by the civil and police administration in Bandipora.

While talking to KNO Rafeeq said that eversince the coronavirus outbreak in Bandipora he has been providing meals to the people put under different quarantine centres in Bandipora health block.

“When there was outbreak of this deadly disease, everyone was scared and remained confined to their homes but my courage did not diminish and stood by the administration and volunteered to provide meals quarantine people.”

He said that when everyone was scared even to go near these people he would provide them meals without any fear of contracting the virus.

He said that he is running a police canteen for the people visiting mini-secretariat and the employees working in different departments there but due to Covid-19 outbreak he was tasked to provided meals to people put under quarantine in Bandipora.

He said that in the beginning he had to prepare food fro around 1200 people when first Covid-19 cases were detected in Bandipora and it was very hard for him to do this task but his courage didn’t diminish.

He said that people who were working in his canteen had left after the outbreak of this deadly disease and he was left alone, however, his son gave him support and they ran the canteen on their own.

Mohsin, who is the younger son of Rafeeq, helped his father in preparing the food for quarantine people and they would to these quarantine centres to give food to quarantine people and employees posted in these centres.

Mohsin said that despite his father being a disabled person he didn’t lose courage and volunteered to provide food to these people with the help of district administration.

“During these days my has not even slept properly and even in the month of Ramadhan he was busy in preparing food for the quarantine people. I am proud of my father because when everyone was running away from Covid-19 suspects he was there to provide them two time meals every day,” Mohsin said.

Rafiq said that this disease will not stay forever but what will be remembered is the role everyone played during these testing times.

He said “We wanted to serve the people who were kept in quarantine by the admin. We did as much as we could.”

Pulwama, June 11: A medical team was assaulted after it went to quarantine the family members of an 80-year old man—who had tested positive for COVID-19— at Rohmu village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday.
The man tested positive in the village today. Already, an elderly man from the same village has died due to COVID-19 infection.
Sources told KNT that a medical team from Rajpora arrived in Rohmu village to quarantine the family members of the infected man, but there it faced the wrath of same family members. “The family members mostly women pelted stones on the ambulance as a result the driver sustained head injuries and was rushed to hospital for treatment. The medical team fled from the village,” local sources said adding that the irresponsible behavior on part of few embarrassed the whole village.
Locals said that shortly after the incident Naib Tehsildar rushed to spot and persuaded the family members for quarantine.
A man part of the Surveillance team said that women folk confronted them and asked to stop this ‘Covid-drama’.
While confirming the incident, Block Medical Officer, Rajpora told KNT that the matter was brought into the notice of district administration. “After the intervention of Naib Tehsildar, the matter was resolved amicably,” he said and admitted that ambulance was damaged and the driver sustained head injury.  He appealed people to behave responsibly in this pandemic.

New Delhi, June 11: Terming the crisis that has arisen in the country due to the COVID outbreak as an opportunity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that any such crisis can prove to be a turning point to build a self- reliant India.

Delivering the inaugural address of the 95th annual plenary session of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) through video conferencing here, the PM said, ‘India is putting up a brave front along with the entire world amid the COVID crisis.

Such difficult times have made India more resolute. Determination, will power and unity are the strength of the nation which makes the country to fight all the crises. Any crisis provides us with an opportunity to turn it into a turning point to build a self- reliant India.’

The Prime Minister said self reliance has been an aspiration of India for years.

‘When I see the population as a whole in India, I see youthfulness, I see motivation and hope. I see aspirations and dreams. And I also see the resolve in people to turn a challenge into an opportunity.

I see people thinking kaash (I wish) we were self-reliant in medical equipment, I wish we were self-reliant in manufacturing PPE kits, I wish we were self-reliant in defence production, I wish we were self-reliant in manufacturing all that we buy or consume. I see countless such kaash in Indians today. The solution to all this can only come from Atma Nirbhar Bharat,’ the PM said.

‘India’s growth story will come only from this (self-reliance). It is the only way that will propel us forward in the 21st century. It is the only way that India, which is today an importing nation, will first become self-reliant, and then aim to become a big exporting nation. That is the vision that will take us forward.

The time has come for every street, every village, every district, every state, and the nation as a whole to take a pledge to ensure that we as a nation must become self-reliant at all levels,’the PM said.

The PM said it is time for bold decisions and bold investments, to prepare a globally competitive domestic supply chain and not for conservative approaches.

The Prime Minister said “Goal of self-reliance has been paramount in the policy and practice of the country and now the Corona pandemic has taught us a lesson on how to speed it up.

“It is from this lesson – Atma Nirbhar Bharat campaign has started.” he said.

Modi said, we must all work towards making India an exporter of all products which it is currently forced to import.

Appreciating the efforts of small traders, he said ,’When we buy local produce from them, we are not just paying them for their goods and services, but are rewarding their contributions.’

Quoting Swami Vivekananda that ‘The simplest method to be worked upon at present is to induce Indians to use their own produce and get markets for Indian products in other countries’ he said ‘ this path shown by Swami Vivekananda is an inspiration for India in post-COVID world.’

The Prime Minister listed the major reforms announced under Atma Nirbhar Bharat campaign like expanding the scope of definition of MSMEs, arranging special funds to support MSMEs, decision related to IBC, creation of Project Development Cells for fast tracking of investments.

Hailing the recent policy decisions taken in the field of agriculture, the Prime Minister said, ‘the agricultural economy has been liberated from years of restrictions. Now the farmers of India have the freedom to sell their product, their produce anywhere in the country.’

Calls for fatality mitigation, proactive medical response

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, June 11: In the backdrop of ease of movement restrictions and return of migrant workers, the Cabinet Secretary has asked all the States and Union Territories to keep a close watch on the emerging trajectory of COVID spread and accordingly devise a proactive containment strategy.
Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam along with Administrative Secretaries of departments of Health, Information, Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, and Director, National Health Mission participated in the interaction with the Cabinet Secretary on video conference.
While reviewing the post restriction-relaxation situation, Cabinet Secretary stressed on the States/ UTs to dedicatedly monitor the changes in confirmation rate, number of actives cases, fatality rate and doubling rate especially around the emerging hotspots.
The Cabinet Secretary reiterated the need of 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.
Regarding medical infrastructure, Cabinet Secretary asked the States/ UTs to ensure efficient hospital services by undertaking advance planning for two months with an aim to secure adequate bed capacity, isolation facility and availability of health care professionals.
Speaking about fatality mitigation strategy, Cabinet Secretary emphasised on early hospitalisation of vulnerable patients especially children, old aged and patients with co-morbidity. He said that end-to-end case management comprising surveillance, testing, treatment, referrals including transition through ambulance needs to be further strengthened through better coordination of the concerned agencies.
Moreover, as a part of aggressive surveillance and contact tracing, use of Arogya Setu App was endorsed as it shares the self assessment information from the users with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare which then shares the same with States and UTs. It was informed that the app generates information about people susceptible to infection by comparing the travel history of COVID patients to self assessment symptoms of the users.

Not in community spread stage yet: ICMR

New Delhi, June 11: India’s Coronavirus tally rose to 2,86,579 on Thursday after nearly 10,000 fresh cases were reported in a day, while Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) asserted that the country is ‘definitely’ not in the phase of community transmission, yet.

Dr Balram Bhargava, ICMR said that with Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) prevalence as low as less than 1 per cent in small districts in a large country like India, the nation is ‘definitely’ not in the community transmission stage.

However, the death toll registered a sharp spike with 357 succumbing to the virus in the past 24 hours, pushing the count to 8,102.

Leaders of the three BJP-ruled Delhi municipal corporations on Thursday said that 2,098 Covid victims have been cremated in the capital.

The BJP has been continuously accusing the Arvind Kejriwal government of hiding the number of corona deaths in Delhi. As of June 10, the Delhi government’s corona death toll is only 984.

While talking about community transmission, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said, “If we get caught in grammar and let go of field action, we will suffer.”

Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a notice to the Delhi Government and Union Health Ministry over a complaint alleging mismanagement of the pandemic situation in the national capital that escalated the situation in the city.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the crisis of Corona remains all over the world. ‘The whole world is fighting it. Our country is fighting with Corona Warriors.’

He said, ‘Sometimes time tests us. Sometimes many difficulties come simultaneously. But we have also experienced that in such a scenario, our work and experience guarantees a bright future’.

In an important milestone for the first time since the outbreak of Covid-19 in India, the number of ‘recovered’ cases exceeded the number of ‘active’ cases on Wednesday.

As of now, there are 1,37,448 active cases while 1,41,029 people have been cured/discharged/migrated.

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