UT ranks second in number of tests done per million: Atal Dulloo

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 24: Union Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh Friday held a video conference with the officers of the health department of Jammu and Kashmir to review the work done and preparedness in place to combat the spread of COVID-19 disease.

The Minister who also holds Independent Charge for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region lauded the efforts of the medical fraternity of Jammu and Kashmir in combating the spread of the Coronavirus infection.

The video conference was attended by Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Renu Sharma Sharma, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Samir Mattoo, Director SKIMS A G Ahanger, Mission Director National Health Mission, Bhupinder Kumar, Principal Government Medical College Jammu, Dr Sunanda Raina, Principal Government Medical College Kashmir, Dr Samia Rashid, Principals of new Medical Colleges, Director Coordination, New Medical Colleges, Dr Yashpal Sharma; Director ISM J&K, Mohan Singh, Managing Director JK Medical Supplies Corporation Limited, Shiv Kumar Gupta and Drug controller J&K Lokita Khajuria.

The Minister said that due to the coordinated efforts taken under the leadership of Financial Commissioner Atal Dulloo, J&K has been able to limit the spread of this viral disease to a large extent.

“The way the officers of the health department have coordinated their efforts is laudable. All the health institutions in J&K have done a commendable job in limiting the spread of Coronavirus infection. I appreciate whole medical fraternity for the work they have done to treat and control this infectious disease,” said Dr Jitendra Singh while addressing the conference.

The Minister in his interaction with Director SKIMS and Principals of medical colleges also appreciated the efforts of frontline resident doctors and medical officers in efficiently managing the treatment of COVID-19 positive cases.

He also said that the central government has brought an ordinance in the Epidemic act for the security and benefit of the medical fraternity.

The Financial Commissioner apprised the Minister about the status of COVID-19 cases and said that more than 850 samples are being tested in the UT on a daily basis. He stated that J&K stands second in the country in number of tests done per million of population.

Atal Dullo said that laboratory capacity for testing all suspect samples is being expanded and surge capacity for isolating all suspects or confirmed cases for medical care is being established.

He informed that UT has already put orders for rt-PCR machines for new Medical colleges and permission has been granted to SKIMs for using High-end rt-PCR machines with automated RNA extractor, which will further enhance the testing capacities at our laboratories.

The FC also said that J&K has designated more than 10,000 isolation beds and 30,000 quarantine beds for COVID-19 care management. He also apprised the Minister of active involvement of BSF, CRPF, Army and Railways in creating the makeshift infrastructure for COVID-19 care.

He informed the MoS that as of now, J&K has got sufficient stock of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) and other logistics. Furthermore, he said that in a week time free flow of PPE supplies would resume, thus further strengthening the position with regard to stocks.

Urges cured patients to donate plasma for saving lives
United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 24: Chief Minister of New Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, on Friday said initial results of plasma therapy in the treatment of four COVID-19 patients in Delhi are encouraging.

Addressing a press briefing on the initial positive results of the use of plasma treatment to COVID-19 patients, Kejriwal said that in the last few days, they have tried plasma therapy on four patients at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital and it has yielded positive results.

He appealed to the recovered patients to donate their plasma to help other patients recover and contain the fatalities caused due the deadly virus.

Kejriwal also said that Delhi would seek Union Government’s permission to use plasma therapy for all serious covid patients based on the next trials of the therapy.

“Our efforts in the fight against Corona are two-fold, one, how to contain the spread of Corona which includes social distancing, lockdown and various other measures, and two, how to control the deaths caused by the pandemic,” Kejriwal said.

A few days back, the Delhi Chief Minister had informed the media that the Central Government had permitted the Delhi government to try plasma therapy on the patients recovering from Corona.

“Once a person recovers from Corona, anti-bodies are formed in his blood, which is then transferred into a recovering person’s body. We got the trial permission for patients admitted to the LNJP hospital, and we have tried the therapy on four patients and the results are satisfactory. We have Dr S K Sarin, who is the head of ILBS hospital, and is monitoring the whole project,” Kejriwal said.

“ILBS functions as an autonomous body under the Delhi government, and a team of senior doctors are leading the plasma therapy project. Our initial plan was to use plasma therapy as per the age-old traditions, as it had also been used in the 1900s,’ Dr Sarin said.

He said this virus has three phases, first is when the virus enters the body, second is the pulmonary phase which affects the lungs and causes difficulty in breathing and the third phase is when cytokines are released which produce substances that can kill the virus.

Many booked for defying lockdown orders

Mubashir Aalam Wani

Srinagar, Apr 24: Amid lockdown, the authorities continued to bar people from offering mandatory Friday congregational prayers for the fifth straight week in all the shrines and Masjds across Jammu and Kashmir as precautionary measure to prevent the deadly Coronavirus from spreading.

No large congregation was witnessed at any Masjid or shrine across Jammu and Kashmir with all the religious places remaining locked for fifth straight week, witnesses told KNO.

All the religious places across the Union Territory including Dargah Hazratbal and historic Jamia Masjid in Old City area of Nowhatta remained locked throughout the day.

The religious places remained closed amid the continuous lockdown across the Union Territory for the 31st straight day today with police and paramilitary men remaining deployed on the roads here.

The roads as per the witnesses were sealed by the forces by erecting concertina wires, which halted the vehicular as well as pedestrians’ movement throughout the day.

Besides, Jammu and Kashmir police continued to act tough against the persons who are found violating the government’s prohibitory orders issued under section 144 CrPC. Kulgam police arrested 11 violators and seized three vehicles for defying prohibitory orders.

At Police Station Qaimoh a violator was arrested and a case under FIR number 20/2020 under section 188,269 IPC has been registered, officials said, adding that a Police Station Kulgam, three violators were arrested and a vehicle was seized, saying a case under FIR number 70/2020 under section 188,269 has been registered.

At Police Station Qazigund, four violators were arrested and two separate FIRs under number105 and 107/2020 under section 188,269 IPC have been registered, officials said.

They further said that at Police Station D H Pora, three violators were arrested and two vehicles were seized for defying prohibitory orders, adding that a case under FIR number 49/2020 under section 188,269 IPC has been registered.)

Wishes happy Ramadan

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Apr 24: The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, today greeted people on the occasion of the beginning of holy month of Ramadan.

“In this holy month, we should pray to Allah to combat Corona virus infection instantly so that the stranded life  across valley will again come on track and also enhance the spirit of peace and harmony across Kashmir Division’’ he said while issuing a statement to media.

The Divisional Commissioner further said that in view of COVID-19 Pandemic, the divisional administration has imposed lockdown for the health and safety of the general public and religious leaders had also appealed people to offer five times Namaaz at their home during the month of Ramzaan including Taraweh Namaaz, so that the chain of Corona virus infection is broken.

“Follow lockdown measures in letter & spirit, stay home and adopt the health guidelines regarding Corona virus seriously besides, wash your dates properly before breaking fast. While staying at home, immunity in the body remains balanced which will help to fight against the Corona virus disease so stay home and stay Safe”, added the Div Com.

Sajid Maqbool

Bandipora, Apr 24: The number of COVID-19 cases in Bandipora district continues to rise as nine more tested positive on Friday, taking the toll number of cases in the district to 108.

An official told KNO that nine more cases including three elderly men and two women were reported from Gund-Qaiser village today.

“Total number of cases in the district now stands at 108 of which 85 are active while 22 patients have recovered so far. A patient has also died due to Covid-19 in Gund-Jahengeer village of Hajin,” he said.

He said that out of the total 99 cases, 68 were reported from Hajin medical block and 40 from Bandipora block. He said that samples of 1048 persons have been collected so far out of which 108 cases have been found positive, 760 cases as negative while reports of rest of the cases are still awaited.

“Active screening by 25 dedicated teams of health experts in 12 Red Zones of Bandipora is underway and 30604 persons have been screened so far.”

A health official said that the past four days have seen a significant spike in Covid-19 cases in Gund-Qaiser village emerging also as new hotspot in the district.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the increasing coronavirus cases in the district a massive sanitisation drive was launched in all red zone areas of Bandipora.

United News of India
Geneva, Apr 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) is launching the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, also called the ACT Accelerator, in a bid to prompt the development and distribution of test kits, vaccines and methods for treating the coronavirus, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday.

“Today, WHO is proud to be uniting with many partners to launch the Access to #COVID19 Tools Accelerator, or the ACT Accelerator,” Tedros said, as quoted by WHO on Twitter, calling it “a landmark collaboration” accelerating the development, production and equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for COVID-19.

The program is set to ensure that all people across the world have access to all the tools to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the WHO chief added.

In addition, Tedros thanked French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, as well as Bill and Melinda Gates for assisting in launching the project and co-hosting the ACT Accelerator.

United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 24: India’s efforts in tackling Covid-19 has saved the country from going into stage three of the outbreak, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan claimed on Friday.

He stated that the positive cases of Covid-19 were stable at around four per cent of the total samples tested

and the mortality rate was at three per cent while recovery rate more than 20 per cent.

Congratulating all the state heath ministers for keeping the situation under control in the fight against Covid-19 in their respective states and UTs, Dr Harsh Vardhan in a video conference said, “We know the whereabouts of our enemy and with proper, graded and guided response we are in a position to overcome it.”

The minister asked state governments to keep up vigil on the pandemic.

“The fight against the pandemic is now more than three-and-half months old and the prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 in the country is being monitored at the highest level in collaboration with the states,” he said.

The meeting which saw participation from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,

Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka,Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Chandigarh, Andaman and Nicobar, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Uttarakhand.

At the same time, he exhorted all the ministers to ensure that non-COVID patients are not neglected.

“While we are providing treatment and care to the COVID-19 patients, we also need to ensure treatment for the non-COVID-19 patients, who are suffering from critical ailments such as respiratory or heart disease, those requiring dialysis, those that require blood transfusion and pregnant mothers. We should not turn them away on any kind of flimsy pretexts as these critical procedures can’t wait,” he said.He also stressed upon the States/UTs about the need to promote voluntary blood donation and urged them to keep themselves prepared for other vector-borne diseases such as Malaria, Dengue and TB which should not be ignored in the present circumstances.

He informed that teams of technical officers had been sent for “handholding, reviewing the situation in the states and helping in day-to-day fight against COVID-19.

On the issue of anti-body tests, he said, “The results of the test vary from place to place and it can’t be relied upon. Moreover, WHO has also not commented on its accuracy. The ICMR is reviewing the efficacy of the test and the kits in its own labs and shall come out with fresh guidelines soon.”

Ishtiyaq Ahmed

Srinagar, Apr 23: This is for the first time that Kashmiris will be observing, the revered month of fasting in their own homes in the past over a hundred years.

Even though the lockdown is till May 3 and it’s not clear whether there would be any extension or not, but social distancing seems to be becoming a new norm now.

Officials in the administration told news agency KINS that social distancing has to be maintained for the months ahead and the precautions to be prevent the spread of Covid-19 will remain for long.

However, elderly people in Kashmir assert that they have heard from their fathers and grandfathers that since the Cholera pandemic in early 19th century, this is for the first time that people of Kashmir will be offering prayers in the fasting month of Ramadhan in their own homes.

“I have heard from my father that Cholera pandemic had spread in Kashmir during the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh and people then offered special prayers at Hazratbal shrine after pandemic faded away,” said Abdur Razak Dar, a resident of Harwan.

Razak, 80, said that in his entire life, he has never prayed at his home during the fasting month of Ramadhan. “The feeling of praying every prayer at home is irritating. It’s the month of blessing peace, and seeking repentance and we will be locked in our homes and even have to prayer there only,” Razak told KINS.

He said that Allah is definitely annoyed with the people across the globe and with those living in Kashmir too.

For poet Zareef Ahmed Zareef, it’s so unfortunate for the people of Kashmir to pray at homes in the holy and sacred month. “When Cholera hit Kashmir in early 19th century, there were huge charity given away by the people and mass repentance prayers were held. Massive prayers were held at Hazratbal where people showered praises at the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) amid moist eyes. It was the occasion of Milad un Nabi (SAW), the birth anniversary of Prophet (SAW) and Allah heard theprayers and took away the pandemic,” he said. “But I have heard from my father and his father, that even during such tough times, prayers were held in masjids and big gatherings used to take place amid massive Charity drives.”

For Ghulam Qadir Rather, a resident of Pantha Chowk, he has never seen prayers been offered in homes during fasting month of Ramadhan. “I am touching 80’s, but have never seen people being asked to offer prayers at home. When there is a complete ban on gatherings of all kinds and if someone defies it, police acts swiftly, there is no question of going to masjids in fasting month. But for me, this is for the first time in my life that Kashmiri people will be offering prayers and Taraweeh in their homes,” said Rather.(KINS)

3 CRPF men injured in Chadoora grenade attack

GNS
Srinagar, April 24: Two militants were killed minutes after they abducted a Railway policeman at Yaripora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday, police said.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir Range, Vijay Kumar told GNS that militants abducted a Railway policeman at Shirpora village following which an immediate cordon was launched by a joint team of police and army. Soon militants were chased at Kharpora leading to a brief gunfight in which both of them were killed while a policeman was injured. “The joint team successfully rescued the abducted cop,” the IGP added.

3 CRPF men injured in Chadoora grenade attack

Meanwhile, three paramilitary CRPF men were injured in a militant attack at Duniwari area of Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday evening.

Reports reaching GNS said that the militants lobbed a grenade inside the camp of CRPF 29 battalion at Duniwari area of Chadoora. In the attack, three CRPF troopers suffered injuries, they said.

The injured trio has been identified as Inspector Mayesh Chand, constable G Prakesh Rao and constable K Sirnu. The paramilitary men also fired some shots in retaliation. However, there was no causality reported to the other side.

CRPF Spokesperson Pankaj Singh told GNS that three jawans including an officer of Inspector rank suffered minor injuries and their condition is stable.

Soon after the attack, the paramilitary men along with additional reinforcement of SOG and army launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area.

Srinagar: Fifty militants, 17 forces personnel and 9 civilians have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir during the first four months of 2020, which included some top commanders of JeM and Lashker-e-Tioba (LeT), the ABP News reported on Friday.
Among the dead militants, at least 18 have been killed during the month-long COVID-19 lockdown.

Giving details, officials in the security forces said that the slain militants, including district commander of LeT Muzaffar Ahmed Bhat, were killed in a gun-battle with govt forces in the Dialgam area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir on March 15, adding they belonged to LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen outfits.

On January 25, three militants, including JeM Kashmir chief Qari Yasir, were killed while three soldiers were injured in a gunfight in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, they said.

On January 23, another top militant commander Abu Saifullah alias Abu Qasim, an associate of Yasir, was killed in the Khrew area of Pulwama district, the officials said.

On April 9, top JeM commander Sajad Nawab Dar was killed by security forces in Sopore in Baramulla district in north Kashmir, he said.

A top Hizbul Mujahideen ‘commander’ Haroon Wani was killed in a gunfight with the security forces in the Gundana area of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir on January 15, he said.

Giving further details, the officer said 18 militants were killed during the lockdown in the union territory since March 14. As many as nine civilians were killed by the militants during this year, he said.

Besides, seventeen security forces personnel were killed during the same period, which includes 13 security forces personnel, three Special Police officers (SPOs) and one policeman, he added.
As many as 160 militants were killed and 102 arrested in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh had said earlier. (Agencies)