COVID19 claimed 12 more lives in J&K today as 544 people tested positive for the viral infection.
Among the 256 cases reported from Kashmir division today, Srinagar district had 118 while two people from the City, who had tested positive recently succumbed to the viral illness. These include a 70 year old female from Lal Bazar area and an 84 year old male from Sonwar area. While the former was admitted at SKIMS Soura, the latter was admitted at Chest Disease Hospital.
Two more people from Kashmir division also succumbed to SARS-CoV2 today. These were a 80 year old male from Chogul Handwara in Kupwara district, admitted at SMHS Hospital and a 60 year old male from Beerwah Budgam admitted at SKIMS Soura.
In Jammu division, eight people were reported to have lost their lives in the past 24 hours to the viral infection. The number of cases reported from Jammu division today was 288 as per official bulletin on COVID19.
Across the UT, 544 new cases were detected from the 27117 tested samples. The number of active cases in J&K today stood at 4989. 105537 people who had tested positive have recovered from the illness, perching the recovery percentage at 94 percent. The death toll reached 1730, 1.5 percent of the reported cases.
With Srinagar continuing to be among the worst affected districts here, the Government has rolled out a schedule for massive sampling in its markets for early detection.
An order issued by chairman District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), COVID19 sampling would be ramped up in Srinagar in the coming weeks. The order has sought 100 percent sampling in markets of Srinagar district. The decision to ramp up Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is in continuation with the “ongoing sampling drive covering Government offices, banks, business establishments and markets”. Till date, as per the order, over 2 lakh RATs have been carried out in Srinagar.
DDMA has sought support of Tehsildar and SHO concerned in ensuring that the sampling is carried out smoothly as per the schedule and entrusted the responsibility on these two officials in every area. The sampling will start on 05 December with Maharaja Bazar market where 200 samples will be taken. In the coming weeks, upto 23 December, the schedule lists, 113 market areas will be covered, each with 200 samples.
Chief Medical Officer Srinagar is to ensure availability of adequate quantities of RAT kits and adequate teams for sampling.