Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Apr 9: On the directions of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, a meeting was convened in the office of the Deputy Drugs Controller Kashmir, with the wholesale Drug Association of Srinagar with regard to the availability of medicines in the district.
Similar meetings were also conducted at district level where officers took stock of the availability of medicines and other related issues with wholesalers and retailers in their respective jurisdictions.
It was given out that 200 boxes of anti-cancer drugs, insulin preparations, PPE Kits, Diagnostic kits, Reagents Masks, Hand Sanitizers, Test Cartridges and other allied products reached the valley yesterday through Air Force and were received by the Drug Control Department. These medicines and other allied products are being distributed among the health institutions and Pharma traders.
Concerned officers directed the Pharma Association to report any shortage of medicines to the Deputy Drugs Controller, Kashmir, so that same can be arranged for the patients well in time.
The Pharma dealers, who have to airlift their medicine from Delhi were asked to put up their requisitions, if any, well in advance, so the supply chain is not hampered and if any truck or vehicle carrying medicines is halted anywhere, same should be brought into the notice of authorities for its safe passage, they were advised.
Enforcement staff was directed to maintain strict vigil over the price of drugs and medicines and were asked to initiate immediate action for profiteers and hoarders under the relevant laws.
‘No shortage of medicines, drugs in Kashmir’
COVID 19: 1811 complete quarantine in Kashmir, 39 more discharged
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Apr 9: Thirty nine (39) more persons who were shifted into administrative quarantine in Srinagar two weeks ago were discharged Thursday after successfully completing their 14-day quarantine period.
Except one all these persons belonged to Srinagar district. Upon being discharged all these persons were ferried home in transportation the administration had arranged for their convenience.
Concerned supervising officers oversaw their discharge and their transportation.
The group like all others before was under thorough medical supervision throughout their quarantine period and was discharged after clearance from doctors and health authorities.
J&K Govt establishes system to help families of persons engaged in COVID-19 management
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 9: In pursuance with the recent High Court order, Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday established a system to help the dependents, families of health care personal, governmental personal, official engaged in the COVID-19 management.
In this regard, Principal Secretary Social Welfare Department, Shailendra Kumar appointed Mission Director ICPS Shabnam Shah as nodal officer to monitor the cases at the union territory (UT) level.
He also appointed district of Social Welfare Officers (SWOs) as nodal officers at the district level to facilitate family members, old aged persons, persons with disabilities.
The Principal Secretary also directed that all grievances registered through ‘112’ shall be readdressed by him wherever necessary.
The Chairpersons of Child Welfare Committees were also nominated as nodal officers at the district level in cases of children in need of care and protection and providing counselling.
Poplar Nuisance
Amid Covid-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of female poplars have been ordered to be axed in the Kashmir after fears that the pollen generated by the trees during the spring season could become carriers of the coronavirus.
A lawyer recently moved the J&K high court, contending that pollens of the trees remain in the air between 25 to 30 days and may create havoc for humans with respiratory diseases as it has the potential to hold the virus.
The top court, common to the newly carved out UTs, asked government to take necessary action if the lawyer’s contentions hold any weight.
Subsequently, orders came to be issued by all Deputy Commissioners asking the locals to fell the trees or face action.
The administration has even threatened to file an FIR against those who disobey the order even as it maintains that the authorities will later fell these trees and auction them on their own. It’s a challenging job as unofficial estimates suggest existence of over 15 million such trees across the Valley and their population is growing every year.
Opinion is split over the felling of the trees with some experts contending that the axing is without any sound scientific basis and that there was need for a proper cost-benefit analysis needed. Others, mainly pulmonologists, stress on cutting the female trees, considering the allergies the poplars trigger in the Valley during ending April to May.
In 2015, the High Court had observed that it was a “common knowledge that pollen seeds of poplars of Russian species adversely affect health of the general public, mostly of elderly people and children and that the pollen seeds of these trees had given rise to chest diseases in the valley. The top court of J&K had thus ordered the non-native poplar’s eradication from Kashmir. However as the things stand, the order was largely observed in breach. One of the theories doing rounds about the non-compliance of the orders is linked to mafia associated with pharmaceutical companies dealing the medicine that treats patients afflicted with allergies with symptoms ranging from congestion, runny or itchy nose, sneezing.
While it is time that the government acts tough in ensuring eradication of the annual menace due to the female Russian poplars in the Valley, the administration should ensure only such trees are axed which are potentially dangerous.
‘Secure medicos to fight COVID-19’
Apex Court asks Govt to take all measures for safety of healthcare workers; Salaries of medicos won’t be cut, Solicitor General assures court
Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Apr 8: Increase in number of COVID-19 cases across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, has created fear among the medical fraternity that they too can fall prey to the deadly virus while treating the patients.
According to media reports medicos are demanding that they should be provided with the proper protective gear to treat the COVID-19 positive patients. “A doctor, who tested positive for the deadly virus in Jammu, earlier this month, was head of the testing team which was collecting the samples of the COVID-19 suspects,” a media report said.
It said that along with the doctor his wife and his father also tested positive for the COVID-19. After the doctor tested positive some media reports said that every attempt was made to send a message that he was not dealing with the COVID-19 suspects. But the attempt failed as the duty roster punctured the “blatant lie.”
In Kashmir, a nurse also tested positive for the deadly virus on Tuesday. “We have to ensure that we are able to protect the members of medical fraternity and even if they get infected we should support them,” an observer told Precious Kashmir.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday described the healthcare workers as “warriors” fighting Coronavirus pandemic and asked the Union government to take all measures for safety of healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients.
A two-judge bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Ravindra Bhat was hearing a plea filed by Nagpur-based doctor Jerryl Banait, seeking availability of head cover, face shield, medical masks, shower cover among others for doctors in tier II and tier III cities along with metro cities.
An analyst said that it’s not J&K only where medicos are fighting COVID-19 without the proper protective gear. “The PIL filed in the Apex Court is an indication that medicos are fighting a tough battle that too without arms. We have to secure them before it becomes too late.”
Another matter which came up for hearing in Supreme Court on Wednesday was about the reports of salary cut of doctors and staff at government hospitals in some States, the Solicitor General ensured the court that there would be no pay cut for the health staff. “We will be writing a letter to all States that no salary of any government doctor or staff should be deducted. No deduction from salary to buy masks and PPE,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court.
“It’s unfortunate that some States are mulling to deduct the salaries of the doctors and other medical staff. If this happens in one State it will become a trend across the country and other regions will also follow the suit. We should support our medical fraternity in every possible way in these crisis times. Rather than bogging them with the issues which can make them tense. We need to follow the footsteps of the countries, where COVID-19 has turned into a full blown crisis. But these countries have stood by the healthcare workers,” another analyst added.
Jammu records first COVID-19 death, J&K toll rises to 4
33 new cases test positive in one day; 30 in Kashmir, 3 in Jammu
Precious Kashmir News/ UNI
Srinagar, Apr 8: Jammu recorded its first COVID-19 death on Wednesday after a 61-year-old woman from Udhampur district died at Government Medical College Jammu, with her death toll in Jammu and Kashmir has climbed to four.
Meanwhile, J&K today recorded the highest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases with 33 more persons, including 30 from Kashmir and three from Jammu, testing positive, taking the total number of infected people to 158.
“61-year old female patient from Udhampur passed away at GMC Jammu, tested positive for Corona; reported to be suffering from Arhritis and bedridden. Contacts being traced,” J&K UT spokesman Rohit Kansal wtote on twitter.
It’s in place to mention here that a 65-year-old Hyderpora resident had become the first person to die due to deadly infection in J&K on March 26, while a 62-year-old man died on March 29 at Chest Disease hospital in Srinagar less than 12 hours after being tested positive for Coronavirus in Kashmir. A 54-year-old man from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district died in a hospital in Srinagar on Tuesday (April 7).
J&K records 33 new COVID-19 positive cases in one day
Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday recorded the highest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases with 33 more persons, including 30 from Kashmir and three from Jammu, testing positive, taking the total number of infected people to 158.
An official spokesperson said that 30 more people tested positive for Coronavirus in Kashmir division while three cases were reported from Jammu.
With this, he said the total number of infected persons has risen to 158. “Out of 158 positive cases, 149 are Active positive, six have recovered and three have died,” he said.
He said 122 ‘Active positives’ are in Kashmir and 27 are in Jammu.
He said in the Union Territory of J&K till date 40,336 people, including travelers and persons who came in contact with positive or suspected cases have been put under surveillance. “Of these, 8,494 have been put in home quarantine, including facilities operated by government, 103 in hospital isolations, 518 in hospital quarantine, 23,364 in Home surveillance,” he said, adding 7830 have completed their surveillance period.
“Nineteen more cases test positive Kashmir Division,” J&K administration spokesperson Rohit Kansal wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Earlier, he tweeted, “14 new cases today; 11 in Kashmir, 3 in Jammu. 139 cases in all now; 130 active cases; 27 in Jammu Division, 103 in Kashmir. Good News too: 2 patients discharged from SKIMS.”
The authorities have intensified aggressive contact tracing campaign to put all such persons under quarantine after taking their samples as per health protocol.
Roads and markets remained deserted as restrictions on movement and assembly of people have been further intensified in view of an upward spiral in Coronavirus cases in Kashmir valley, where normal life was crippled for the 20th successive day. More areas have been declared as ‘Red Zones’ to prevent spread of COVID-19 in the valley.
Fifteen people, including nine in Kashmir and six in Jammu, were on Tuesday tested positive for the infection. Three persons tested positive for the infection in the valley while no case reported in Jammu on Monday.
As many as 31 new positive cases, including 28 from Kashmir and three from Jammu, were reported on Saturday and Sunday, making it the highest jump in the COVID-19 infected persons in J&K.
Eight persons, including five from Jammu and three from Kashmir, were tested positive for COVAID-19 on Thursday while the number jumped by five on Friday. Six persons were tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday while seven other cases were reported on Wednesday.
As many as 11 persons, including eight in Kashmir and three in Jammu, tested positive for COVID-19 in J&K on Monday. The positive case reportedly includes a doctor in Jammu.
A 62-year-old man died at a government hospital less than 12 hours after being tested positive for Coronavirus in Kashmir on March 29, when five persons were tested positive for the infection. So far, two persons have died due to the infection while as many have been successfully treated.
As many as 12 positive Coronavirus cases was recorded in J&K in a single day on March 28, triggering panic among locals despite assurance by administration that they are fully prepared to curtail the infection.
On March 27, two patients are from Chattabal while two others from Bemina in Srinagar were tested positive for Coronavirus. Two minor siblings also from Srinagar were tested positive for Coronavirus on March 26, when a 65-year-old Hyderpora resident became the first person to die due to deadly infection in J&K.
On March 25, four persons, who had met the 65-year-old patient during an event in the valley, were tested positive for Coronavirus. Meanwhile, about 48 persons, who came in contact with the Hyderpora resident, have been put in quarantine centres.
COVID-19 count mounts to 5274 in India
773 fresh cases reported in 24 hours; death toll at 149
United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 8: As India entered the third week of the nationwide lockdown on Wednesday, coronavirus curve steepened with the country reporting over 773 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, taking the tally to 5,274 and casualties to 149, and the Centre asking state governments and Union Territories to invoke Essential Commodities Act.
Underlining that the situation in the country is akin to a ‘social emergency’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said several state governments, district administrations and experts have asked for extension of lockdown.
PM Modi said saving each and every life is priority of the government.
During interaction with floor leaders of political parties in Parliament via video conference, opposition leaders suggested extending the lockdown and on a phased exit after lockdown ends.
In a letter, Chief Secretaries and Administrators of Union Territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla asked all the states to take urgent steps to ensure availability of essential goods, by invoking provisions of the Essential Commodities (EC) Act 1955.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar has called for strict compliance of exemptions given to agriculture and allied sectors and directed setting up of control rooms.
The worst-affected states were Maharashtra which reported 1,078 cases and 64 casualties so far, followed by Tamil Nadu 690 and Delhi 576.
Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsanaro appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s efforts in combating the deadly Novel Coronavirus pandemic and the internaational cooperation the country has been extending.
To count on more accolades, United Nations Asia Pacific Economic and Social Commission (UNESCAP) also praised India’s steps in the wake of the coronavirus, saying country’s policy towards fighting the pandemic is in right direction.
Currently, the active COVID cases stand at 4,714 and the casualties at 149. There is also an increase seen in the number of cured cases, which is 410, as compared last evening’s 352, as per Health Ministry data.
In the past two to three days, confirmed cases have rapidly spiked in Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
COVID-19: 19 convicts to be released on parole; 37 under-trials get interim bail
Umer Maqbool
Srinagar, Apr 8: The authorities in Jammu & Kashmir have cleared 19 convicts for parole in wake of outbreak of deadly COVID-19 , news agency KNO reported on Wednesday.
The news agency said that authorities have given a go-ahead for temporary release of 19 convicts. “Of them, three have been released while 16 would be released in the next few days,” they said, adding that government has released 37 under-trials from different jails of the UT from April 1.
The district –level committees are reviewing the cases of under-trails involved in crimes carrying punishment upto seven years. According to sources, the Home Department today also revoked PSA detention orders of 3 persons, taking the number of orders revoked in the past four weeks to 73.
As already reported by the KNO, all States and Union Territories have been directed by the Supreme Court to set up a high-powered committee to consider the release of prisoners who have been convicted or are under trial for offences for which prescribed punishment is up to 7 years or less.
The committee is headed chairman State Legal Service Authority Justice Rajesh Bindal and comprises Principal Secretary Home Shaleen Kabra and Director General Prisons V K Singh.
The panel has directed the authorities to consider release of several categories of convicts on special parole for eight weeks, extendable for another eight weeks if the lockdown by the government continues, subject to good conduct. It has also recommended 60 -day interim bail for under-trial prisoners, extendable for another period in case the circumstances demand, on furnishing surety and personal bond.
Ladakh: Of 14 COVID-19 positive patients, 10 recover
Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Apr 8: As the Coronavirus cases continue to increase in Jammu and Kashmir, more than 70 percent patients have recovered in Union Territory of Ladakh. They have been discharged from the hospital as well.
In last 20 days, only one patient tested positive in Kargil district while as no patient has tested positive in Leh district in past 20 days, officials said.
Of 14, ten all from Leh district have recovered and have been discharged and now there are three positive patients in Kargil and one in Leh, officials added.
Ladakh UT’s government spokesperson Rigzin Samphel said that ten patients from Ladakh have fully recovered and have been discharged from the hospital. “One more negative, total cases cured of #covid19 is 10. #Ladakh >71% Covid-19 cases cured in #Ladakh.” Samphel tweeted.
Medical superintendent SNM hospital Leh Dr T samphel told KNO that three positive patients were discharged after complete recovery before 20 days and now seven more positive patients have been discharged. “Now there is only one positive patient at SNM hospital whose sample will be taken and sent for reports in coming days besides that four asymptomatic patients whose tests have turned negative are also undergoing treatment at the hospital,” he said.
Kashmir: COVID-19 patients recovering fast, none on ventilator
14 positive patients test negative on retest
Ishtiyaq Ahmed
Srinagar, April 8: None of the patients, who tested positive for COVID-19 in Kashmir have been put on ventilator or admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The authorities here in three major COVID-19- hospitals claimed that patients were recovering fast while repeat test of 14 positive patients has already came negative.
Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, Chest Diseases hospital Dalgate, and Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) hospital Rainawari, while speaking to Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), disclosed even though they have been treating Coronavirus patients since March 18 onwards, but none was put on ventilator or admitted in the ICU so far.
“Fortunately we have no Coronavirus patient on ventilator or in the ICU. All patients are stable and even I can say majority of them are recovering fast,” said, SKIMS Soura Medical Superintendent, Farooq Ahmad Jan.
He said, “So far 329 suspected COVID-19 patients were treated at the hospital. “846 tests were conducted of which 54 tested positive and rest negative. At present we have 28 patients who are admitted in the hospital. But none of them is on ventilator or in ICU.”
He said that the condition of one COVID-19 positive patient deteriorated recently but thank God, he recovered sooner than expected. “Otherwise, we were planning to put him on a ventilator but later, we decided not to as his condition improved,” the MS said.
Sources in the SKIMS said that so far no COVID-19 patients were classified as “critical” and majority of the cases are only “mild.”
“There is a part of luck involved and above all, it’s Allah’s mercy on us,” the medicos said. “Once the patient is on ICU, it’s all up to Almighty when he or she would be off the ventilator. Putting a person on ventilator itself means, the patient is very sick,” one of the doctors said..
“Ventilators are required for COVID-19 patients who develop acute respiratory distress syndrome when the lungs are filled with fluids that make it difficult to breathe,” they added.
“A ventilator is used when lungs are filled with fluid. Such patients find it very difficult to be oxygenated in a normal way. The only way to manage is to put the patient on ventilator assistance,” said the doctor.
Similarly, at the Chest Disease hospital Srinagar so far 14 patients have recovered after they tested positive for the deadly virus. “In total, 25 patients tested positive. Of them 14 recovered after spending time in isolation. Their tests were again conducted and they tested negative,” Medical Superintendent CD hospital Dr Saleem Tak said.
He said that at present eight positive patients are admitted in its isolation cum quarantine facility and they are gradually improving. “Thanks to Almighty, none of the patients deteriorated to an extent that we could shift them in the ICU or put them on the ventilator. All are improving gradually,” he said.
At the JLNM Hospital in Ranawari there are 12 positive Coronavirus patients including a toddler and her seven-year-old sibling.
“All the 12 patients are undergoing treatment. None has recovered but the condition of none has either deteriorated too. No one is on ventilator or ICU. Hope all the 12 will recover soon,” Medical Superintendent of JLNM, Dr Roshan din Kasana said.
According to the recent reports not more than 230 ventilators are available in J&K and that the government has ordered for more. (KINS)
