The count of COVID19 cases in Kashmir continued to rise on Friday with four new patients testing positive. The toll of confirmed coronavirus cases in J&K has reached 18, a jump of 14 patients in just four days.
Friday afternoon, Principal Secretary to J&K governmentRohit Kansal tweeted: “Four more positive cases in Kashmir; all from Srinagardistrict – two have travel history abroad; the other two have travel historyoutside J&K as part of religious congregation.”
A couple in their 60s, a doctor said, were among thepositive cases. They had travelled from Saudi Arabia in the same flight fromwhich two people have already tested positive on 18 March and 24 March. “Theyhad a shared accommodation in Saudi Arabia,” he said. The doctor said thecouple were already under home quarantine but were brought for testing afterexperiencing some symptoms.
The other two who tested positive, he said, had travelhistory of Delhi and Haryana. “One among them is in 20s while the other is in30s.” he said.
In the past four days, J&K’s COVID19 patients jumpedfrom four to 18. 13 new patients were confirmed in Kashmir division alone,while one death was also reported.
Three people, including two siblings, children aged 4 and 7had tested positive for COVID19 on Thursday at CD Hospital, while three otherchildren from the same family had tested negative. The siblings aregrandchildren of a COVID19 positive man who had recently returned from SaudiArabia. A man also tested positive for the virus at GMC Jammu yesterday.
Dr S Saleem Khan, GMC Srinagar nodal officer for COVID19said currently 45 suspected patients were admitted at the hospital, some ofwhom were shifted to Kashmir Nursing Home. 60 new samples were taken fortesting today, he said.
At Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS),nine samples have tested negative while reports of seven samples, taken today,are awaited. Dr Farooq Jan, medical superintendent of the hospital saidcurrently seven patients were admitted in the isolation ward as suspect cases.In addition, 42 patients were admitted to the quarantine of the hospital. Hesaid five patients, who had tested positive at the Institute, four fromBandipora and one from Srinagar, were admitted in a separate isolationfacility. “All our patients are doing well,” he said.
A media bulletin issued by J&K government said 18 caseshave tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir (16 active positive, 01 recovered and01 death). The bulletin said 5763 travellers and persons in contact withsuspected cases have been put under surveillance. It further said 3136 personshave been kept under home quarantine (including facilities operated by Govt)while as 169 are in hospital quarantine.