Srinagar: Kashmir recorded its second COVID-19 death on Sunday after a 62-year-old man from Tangmarg area in north Kashmir passed away at CD hospital here.
The man had tested positive less than 12 hours before his death.
Sources said the patient was suffering from a liver ailment and was admitted to the SMHS hospital last week. He had no travel history or contact with any COVID-19 positive case.
On Saturday, the patient tested positive for the infection at SHMS hospital, following which he was shifted to C D hospital.

“Sad start to the day. Unfortunate demise of a Coronavirus patient in Srinagar this morning,” J&K Union Territory spokesperson Rohit Kansal posted on twitter.

As many as 18 people had tested positive for COVID-19 during the last 24 hours in J&K. In total, 38 people have tested positive for Coronavirus so far in J&K, where all religious places have been closed to curtail spread of the virus.

A 65-year-old Hyderpora resident became the first person to die due to the deadly infection in this recently-created Union Territory on Thursday.

The highest number of 12 positive Coronavirus infections were recorded in J&K in a single day on Saturday, triggering panic among the locals, despite assurance by the administration that they were fully prepared to curtail the infection.

Asking people not be scared of the number, Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary urged them to redouble efforts to win the battle against Coronavirus.

‘Now, the situation as it unfolds, is before us. My humble request to everyone: let’s not get scared by the numbers, let’s redouble our efforts to win this battle together,’ Dr Shahid tweeted.

Restrictions on the movement and assembly of people continued for the 11th successive day on Sunday, even as locals voluntarily stayed indoors, in view of an upward spiral in positive Coronavirus cases and death of another infected patient during the last 24 hours.

5 more test positive in Kashmir
Meanwhile, five more persons tested positive for the COVID-19 in Kashmir  on Sunday, taking the total number of cases across Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to 38.

“5 more positives cases confirmed in Kashmir -2 from Srinagar, 2 Budgam, 1 Baramulla,” the J&K UT spokesman, Rohit Kansal wrote on twitter.

38 positive cases with 2 recoveries, 6465 persons under observation 

The Government today informed that 6465 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance and, so far, 38 cases (34 active positive, 02 recovered and 02 deaths) have tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel coronavirus (COVID-19) 3260 persons have been kept under home quarantine while as 307 are in hospital quarantine.

Persons who are under home surveillance stand at 2163 while as 735 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period.

The Bulletin further said that 588 samples have been sent for testing of which 542 tested as negative while as 8 reports are awaited till March 29, 2020.

Urging people to stay calm and not to panic, the advisory said Government has undertaken aggressive contact tracing and testing campaign to detect Covid-19 positive cases for taking necessary preventive measures for containment of spread that is why the number of confirmed positive cases is increasing.

Giving the details about Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package and Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19’, advisory said it will provide an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh for ninety (90) days to public healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by this pandemic.

On account of the unprecedented situation, private hospital staff/ retired/ volunteer/ local urban bodies/contract/daily wage/ ad-hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by States/ Central hospitals/autonomous hospitals of Central/States/UTs, AIIMS & INIs/ hospitals of Central Ministries can also be drafted for COVID-19 related responsibilities. These cases will also be covered subject to numbers indicated by MoH&FW, GoI.

Appealing people to lend their support in fighting the disease, the advisory called for strict implementation of social distancing measures, disclosure of travel history to covid-19 affected countries / areas and reporting any contact with positive cases voluntarily. “People are therefore urged to stay inside their homes and take the lockdown seriously and uphold the instructions laid out by the government in a coordinated effort to protect themselves, their families & people in general,” reads the advisory.

Public is advised to avoid unnecessary visit to hospitals, in case anyone develops fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek medical advice promptly. “People should call on Covid-19 helpline numbers and inform about their health condition along with any recent travel or contact history so that they can be provided correct medical advice and directed to the right health facility, if needed.”

In case of any emergency people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 at their door steps by calling on toll free No. 108. Pregnant women and sick infants can avail free ambulance services by dialing toll free No. 102.

Similarly, people can also call 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).

Stressing on need to avoid un-necessary travel, advisory urged public not visit crowded places and avoid large gatherings, not to spit in public. People must also take basic precautions for personal hygiene; frequent hand washing with soap & water; and observing coughing and sneezing etiquettes.

Public is advised to strictly follow the advisories issued by the government from time to time and to rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print  and electronic media.

People are advised to refrain from spreading rumours and pay no heed to them at the same time.

Srinagar, Mar 29: Only five people attended the last rites of Kashmir’s  second Covid-19 victim at Sulanda village in north Kashmir’s Tangmarg area on Sunday.
Before him, a Tableegi Jamaat member from Sopore died in a Srinagar hospital recently.

Witnesses said that only five people, all close relatives of the deceased, attended his funeral prayers after wearing a protective gear.
As per the guidelines laid by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), no bathing, kissing and hugging of deceased COVID -19 patient is allowed and same was followed in this case also. (KNO)

Jammu: Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo today said government has roped in private hospitals and nursing homes to create additional isolation facilities across Jammu and Kashmir for treating COVID-19 patients.

In this regard, Atal Dulloo visited the Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences (ASCOMS) Jammu and assessed the isolation beds that have been spared by the hospital administration.

“We are continuously monitoring the situation and are roping in private hospitals and nursing homes to ramp up the isolation facilities across the Union Territory in case the numbers of COVID-19 patients increases. All the private hospitals and nursing homes are cooperating and have agreed to provide space for handling such patients”, Dullo said.

He said that nursing homes have agreed to provide space for handling 5-10 COVID -19 cases each. “The nursing homes in Jammu and Kashmir have given us in writing that they have kept isolation beds ready to handle COVID-19 patients.”

Atal Dullo said that they are assessing the facilities in these nursing homes to check their feasibility and efficiency. He said that separate teams have been constituted both in Jammu and Kashmir to assess the facilities that the private nursing homes have kept in isolation wards.

The FC said that government will start treating COVID-19 patients at the private hospitals and nursing homes in case the need arises. The government said that with the nursing homes pitching in, they will be able to add another 200 isolation beds in these nursing homes.

During his visit to the hospital, the FC was informed by the Director Principal of ACOMS that they have created space for 100 isolation beds with all the facilities in place. It was also informed that the hospitals authorities have kept separate space for handling emergency cases apart from keeping Intensive Care Unit beds.

The FC was further informed by the hospital authorities that they have suspended other OPD services and created a separate COVID Out Patient Department in order to check the contraction of the coronavirus.

Atal Dullooo said that with this initiative, the government has provisions for COVID-19 patients in the government as well as private hospitals.

Director/ Principal, ASCOMS, Pawan Malhotra; Director Coordination New Medical Colleges, Dr Yashpal Sharma; Medical Superintendent, ASCOMS, Dr Ravinder Ratan Paul; Incharge COVID facility ACOMS, Dr Kalyan Dutt and other officers were present on the occasion.

Leh: No one tested positive for Coronavirus in last 10 days in the Union Territory of Ladakh, where three infected patients have been successfully treated, Ladakh UT spokesperson Rigzin Samphel said on Sunday.

“Of the 13 cases we had, three have been successfully treated. Now, we have only 10 active cases of Coronavirus,” he told reporters here on Sunday.

Samphel urged people not to hide their travel history and come forward if they have travelled to Coronavirus-affected countries.

Asserting the administration is further strengthening the grid the combat Coronavirus, he said two hospitals — one each in Kargil and Leh – are being set up. “In Leh, Maha Bodhi Society hospital has been selected for the purpose and it will be operational from Monday. Similarly, JNM school has been selected in Kargil… it will be operational in two to three days,” he added.

Samphel said to combat any eventuality in future, the administration in getting 100 ventilators. “The centre has already approved it and we have been told that the ventilators will reach Ladakh very soon,” he said.

He said currently there are only 27 ventilators available in Ladakh.

Answering a question, he said the testing machines will arrive in Ladakh on Sunday. However, he said to make the machine operational it will take about a month as there is no trained technician that has the expertise to operate the equipment.

New Delhi: As the countrywide lockdown entered Day 5, India on Sunday confirmed more than 1000 cases of Coronavirus.

Fresh cases were reported from several parts of the country, with death toll mounting to 25.

Number of active cases in the country at present amount to 867, the Health ministry confirmed, while claiming of screening around 15,24,266 passengers at the airport.

The government said that a total of 86 people have so far been cured of the virus and subsequently discharged, while one person has migrated.