J&K sees biggest single-day spike with 17 Covid fatalities
DEATH TOLL 365 UT records 450 fresh virus infections, taking the tally to 19,869; active cases 7,662
SRINAGAR:: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday recorded the biggest single-day spike of 17 deaths due to the coronavirus, taking the death toll in the Union territory to 365. As many as 450 fresh Covid-19 infections were also reported and now the total number of positive cases in the UT has risen to 19,869, officials said.
Of the new cases, 367 are from Kashmir and 83 from Jammu division. Among these, 67 patients have a travel history.
Officials said 17 more people have succumbed to the disease–16 in Kashmir and one in Jammu division. As many as 365 people have died due to the disease in the UT—339 fatalities in Kashmir and 26 in Jammu division till date. The total death toll crossed 300 on Saturday, 122 days after the first fatality was reported on March 26.
The UT, particularly Kashmir valley, is witnessing an increase in the daily death toll. Active cases in the UT stand at 7,662 after 520 more patients recovered on Thursday. A government spokesperson said 189 people were discharged in Jammu division and 331 in Kashmir.
The number of people who have recovered since the first cases emerged on March 9 has reached 11,842, taking the recovery rate to 59.6%. After a constant decrease up-to July 17, the recovery rate has been again showing some improvement for the past two weeks. Of the total recoveries, 9,417 were cured in Kashmir while 2,425 in Jammu division.
In Kashmir, the highest jump in cases was witnessed in Srinagar
district where 183 more people tested positive followed by Baramulla at 42 and Bandipora at 33.
In Jammu division, the highest number of 38 cases was reported in Jammu district, and 13 in Rajouri district.
Till date, 3.66 lakh people have been enlisted for observation — 47,281 in home quarantine, 7,662 in hospital isolation, 6 in hospital quarantine and 40,583 under home surveillance.
EXPERTS WARN OF SURGE IN CASES, DEATHS
Jammu and Kashmir could witness a surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths in the coming days since people are not following the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs), issued by the Union health ministry, experts in the Union territory have said.
Many business establishments and markets opened in parts of Kashmir including Srinagar on Wednesday, but the usual rush of shoppers witnessed ahead of Eid was missing.
Eid-ul-Azha, the festival of sacrifice, will be celebrated on Saturday amid the pandemic.
The authorities here had eased some restrictions on Tuesday morning to allow shopping, but police enforced those again fearing swelling crowds and allowed the sale of only essential products and services.
Dr Salim Khan, head of department, Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM) and district nodal officer for Covid-19, said the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital has reported 100 deaths since the pandemic began. “People should maintain hygiene, social distancing and wear masks, or else things could go out of control,” he said.
“People have started wearing masks but still many don’t take this disease seriously. After Eid, we may witness huge rush in the hospitals due to Covid-19 and we won’t have sufficient beds to accommodate the patients,” said a senior consultant at Government Medical College Srinagar.