Five persons died of COVID19 while 487 people were found positive for the viral infection on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Health and Medical Education department Thursday issued directions to all medical colleges to increase the quantum of RT-PCR testing to better assess the COVID19 scenario in J&K.
With the five deaths on Thursday, the death toll due to novel coronavirus in J&K reached 1668. Of the five deaths, three were from Kashmir division and two from Jammu division.
With the continued high mortality attributed to COVID19, the government in a meeting held on Thursday issued direction to all the medical colleges in J&K, including the five new ones, to increase RT-PCR testing. The meeting, which was chaired by Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education in view of the “increased positivity and reduced sampling” also directed to address these issues. Directions were issued to the administrations of all the districts across J&K to lend support to the health teams for sampling of people.
The participants of the meeting, which included principals of all medical colleges, Director Health Services, Director SKIMS, Mission Director NHM and others were directed by Financial Commissioner to “be ready for any exigency in the COVID19 pandemic” after the relaxation of lockdown and the recent festive season.
The meeting participants were told that after the recent festive season it had been noted that the positive percentage had increased. Jammu district has been seen to bear the brunt of COVID9 in the past one week.
On Thursday, of the 487 cases in J&K, 232 were from Jammu and 255 from Kashmir divisions. In Jammu district, the number of positive cases recorded today was 111. Srinagar district was close behind with 110 cases.
The government has directed all CMOs across J&K to increase the number of contacts traced per family. Directions have also been passed to improve data uploading on the national portal monitoring the pandemic.