J&K’S recovery rate climbs to 80% again

Srinagar: As many as 48 people lost their lives to Covid in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday , taking May’s fatalities to 1,231 and the overall death toll to 3,513.

The region also recorded 3,408 fresh infections, pushing the case count to 2, 67,313. A total 4,117 patients recovered, including 2,494 from Kashmir and 1,623 from Jammu. So far, 2,14,664 people have recovered in the UT, taking the recovery rate that had been hovering below 80% since May 4, to 80.3%.

As many as 48,604 were tested for the virus, taking overall tests to 8.18 million. Dr Ashiq Rashid Mir, surveillance medical officer, World Health Organisation, Kashmir division, expressed optimism over what he said was the recovery rate of positive cases along with ‘lower case fatality rate’ in Jammu and Kashmir compared to the rest of the states.

“This is the main indicator, which shows the disease is under control. Around 1, 30,000 patients have recovered in Kashmir and another 80,000 have recovered in Jammu, which is an encouraging sign,” he said.

Of the 48 deaths in the UT, 30 were reported in Jammu division and 18 in Kashmir. Of the new cases, 2,157 are from Kashmir while 1,251 are from Jammu, besides 56 are travellers.

Dr Vijay Kundal, head of medicine department at Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, said there was no need to panic as most Covid cases are mild. “Such people develop symptoms such as cough and cold. They should immediately isolate themselves and eat healthy food,” he said.

“If one’s oxygen saturation level falls below 94%, the patient, whether comorbid or not, should immediately consult a doctor,” he said. The UT has witnessed peak levels in May as the monthly infections have reached 91,230 and fatalities 1,231.