9 deaths, 718 fresh infections in J&K

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday recorded nine Covid-19 related deaths and a spike of 718 positive cases, taking the total number of people infected with the disease in the region to 16,429, officials said. Fifty-four percent of these patients (8,932 cases) were reported in July.

Of the new positive cases, 601 are from Kashmir and 117 are from Jammu division. Among these, 98 patients have a travel history to affected regions.

Officials said nine more people had succumbed to the disease – all of them in Kashmir. With this, the death toll in the UT has risen to 282. As many as 262 fatalities have been reported in Kashmir and 20 in Jammu division till date.the UT, particularly Kashmir valley, is witnessing an increase in death toll and infections for the past one month. As many as 181 persons have died in the last 23 days of July .

Amid the spike, a six-day lockdown was imposed across Kashmir with strict restrictions on movement and gatherings of people. Roads and markets were deserted while movement of traffic was suspended.

The government on Thursday said patients from other districts will be admitted at Category-i health institutions in Srinagar only on referral by the district health authorities.

The patients from other districts will be accepted and admitted at Category I health care institutions in Srinagar i.e. SKIMS Soura, SMHS Hospital, Chest Diseases Hospital, Srinagar and SKIMS Medical College & Hospital Bemina, only when they are referred by the district health authorities in consultation with the director of health or his authorised representative, an official spokesman said.

Active cases in the UT stand at 7,438 after 102 more patients recovered on Thursday. A spokesperson said 18 people were discharged in Jammu division and 84 in Kashmir.