Srinagar: Anantnag reported first COVID-19 patient as 41-year-old resident from Shangus area of the south Kashmir district tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday.
Also a 27-year-old female and 35-year-old male from Gund Jahangir and Naid Khai areas of Bandipora tested positive for the disease along with a doctor from Jammu, taking the tally of COVID-19 patients in J&K to 278.
“For now our luck seems to be holding!!! 8 new cases, 14 recoveries. New cases- 06 from Kashmir and 02 from Jammu Division.14 recoveries, all from Kashmir,” Rohit Kansal, principal secretary information and government spokesman said in a tweet.
Three among the fresh cases, were reported on Tuesday and all of them are from Srinagar district.
Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS said that test reports of 47 samples collected at the tertiary care hospital besides 34 from GMC Baramulla, 54 from Budgam, 11 from Kupwara and one from Ganderbal. “Two of these samples came out to be positive and remaining negative.”
These two cases are from Gund Jahangir Bandipora and contacts of a previous COVID-19 patient.
Regarding the Anantnag case, sources said, his sample came out to be positive at Chest Disease hospital. He was working at a baker’s shop in Sarnal Anantnag area, they said. “Baker and his family are already in quarantine. Also the owner of the shop and his family are also in quarantine in Pahalgam,” they added.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara said all samples from north Kashmir district tested negative today.
“Contact tracing and testing in Red Zones being done and shall continue as a standard procedure,” he said, adding, “Lockdown restrictions shall continue in the present form till 3rd May, with relaxations for farmers and orchardists from 3pm to 5pm subject to social distancing measures.”
The two other cases reported are from Jammu and include a doctor working at Batra hospital while other is said to be a sweeper.
“The doctor is a gastroenterologist. He is 34 years of age and works in our hospital,” Dr Pawan Malhotra, Director Principal and Professor to Pharmacology & Therapeutics, ASCOMS & Hospital said.
Regarding the other case, he said, she is 48-year-old sweeper. “She is not our employee but an outsource person,” he added.
With these fresh cases, the officially confirmed tally stands at 278—50 in Jammu and 228 in Kashmir. Four people have died due to the deadly infection in the J&K while 30 others—nine from Jammu and 21 from Kashmir divisions including two minor sisters from Natipora Srinagar have recovered and have been discharged, leaving the active cases in Kashmir to 204 and 40 in Jammu.
Meanwhile, the government informed that 55498 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance which includes 7760 persons in-home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 365 in Hospital Quarantine, 244 in hospital isolation and 30952 under home surveillance. Besides, 16173 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period. The Bulletin further said that 4341 samples have tested as negative till April 14.
