5 deaths, 240 fresh cases in J&K

SRINAGAR /JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday recorded five deaths and 240 fresh Covid-19 infections, taking the total number of cases in the Union territory to 9,501, officials said.

Of the new cases, 185 are from Kashmir and 55 from Jammu division. Among these, 71 patients have a travel history.

As many as 27 employees at the J&K Bank’s corporate headquarters in Srinagar tested positive for the disease, creating panic and prompting the authorities to close many offices at the headquarters building till Friday .officials said five more people have succumbed to the disease in Kashmir. With this, the death toll in the UT has risen to 154—140 fatalities in Kashmir and 14 in Jammu division till date.

The UT, particularly Kashmir valley, is witnessing an increase in death toll for the past one month. More than 73% of the total fatalities due to Covid-19 in J&K have come since June 7. As many as 62% cases of the total infections were also reported in the period.

Active cases in the UT stand at 3,652 after 128 more patients recovered on Thursday— 54 people were discharged in Jammu division and 74 in Kashmir.

At Sher-i-kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Bemina, 15 patients were discharged after their test reports came out negative.

NC YOUTH LEADER DIES DUE TO VIRUS IN JAMMU

A 38-year-old National Conference youth leader succumbed to the virus in Jammu on Thursday. Government Medical College and Hospital, medical superintendent Dr Dara Singh said, “The patient was admitted in the hospital on July 7 with high fever and cough. He was in the isolation ward and put him on ventilator.”

NC vice-president Omar Abdullah tweeted: “Gone too soon. It was a pleasure and a privilege to work with you ….. May your soul find eternal peace and may your family find strength during this difficult time.” NC patron Dr Farooq Abdullah and other leaders also expressed grief over his demise.