Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

J&K tally mounts to 614 with 33 fresh infections

All new cases from Kashmir; 24 more patients recover

- HT Correspond­ents letterschd@hindustant­imes.com ■

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Thirty-three more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in the Union territory to 614, officials said.

All fresh cases were reported from the Kashmir valley— Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, Shopian and Srinagar districts— where the tally has risen to 556.

“33 new cases, all from Kashmir, reported. Also, 24 more patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals,” a government spokespers­on said, adding that four patients recovered from Jammu division and 20 from Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Jammu district now has no positive cases. “All the reported 26 positive cases from the district have recovered. It is an indicative of being on the right course. Neverthele­ss, declaring Jammu district Covidfree will be premature. Need to carry this forward proactivel­y, with caution,” said Jammu deputy commission­er Sushma Chauhan.

‘NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENC­Y, NEED TO BE ALERT’

Principal secretary and government spokespers­on Rohit Kansal said the COVID 19 spread rate has significan­tly slowed down in

Jammu and Kashmir, even as there is no room for complacenc­y and the situation demands extra watchfulne­ss.

“We continue to have a number of red zones and we need to be alert. Premature exuberance or celebratio­n can cost us dear,” Kansal told reporters here at a press conference.

He said the government will strengthen the surveillan­ce system and procedure. “We are conducting a 100% health audit for J&K using Swasthya Nidhi App and the process is likely to be completed within next few weeks. We are also encouragin­g the use of Aarogya Setu App. So far, more than 8 lakh users have installed the App in the UT,” he said.

“We also have a number of students and labourers stranded outside the UT who have started returning back,” he said. Stating that there is no room for complacenc­y, Kansal said adequate precaution­s are being taken while allowing them to enter the UT.

J&K ANNOUNCES ₹350CR RELIEF PACKAGE

The Jammu and Kashmir administra­tion has announced ₹350 crore relief package for people affected by Covid-19 and lockdown, Kansal said. “The UT administra­tion under the directions of the L-G has been implementi­ng a number of welfare measures for labourers, workers, destitute, etc,” he said.

 ?? WASEEM ANDRABI/HT ?? ■ A doctor collects sample from a woman in a red zone area of Srinagar on Thursday.
WASEEM ANDRABI/HT ■ A doctor collects sample from a woman in a red zone area of Srinagar on Thursday.

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