The samples of 18 patients sent to SKIMS for COVID19 testing from Government Medical College Anantnag have been found negative.
Among them is a chemist and an elderly man. The duo hadneither any travel history nor had come in contact with any positive case.
“The chemist who had developed a few symptoms has testednegative so has the elderly patient who is pneumonic,” said a doctor.
He said this is a positive sign as it indicates thecommunity transmission has not happened to that extent yet.
“In past three weeks samples of eighteen patients who wereadmitted in either isolation facility or quarantine centers were taken. All ofthem have tested negative,” Medical Superintendent GMC Anantnag Dr MajeedMehrab told Greater Kashmir.
He said the suspected cases who were in the isolation orquarantine facility of the hospital have all completed the quarantine periodand are home.
“Only a few suspected cases who have tested negative for thevirus are still under observation of doctors at the respective quarantinecenters,” an official said.
Even as several positive cases of COVID19 have been reportedin Pulwama and Shopian districts, none has come to fore from twin districts ofAnantnag and Kulgam in south Kashmir so far.
Meanwhile, district administration Anantnag today sent 70persons to home quarantine after successful completion of their 14 days ofadministrative quarantine.
They include 69 from quarantine centre Pahalgam and 1 fromquarantine center Kokernag.
District Magistrate Bashir Ahmad Dar expressed satisfactionover the arrangements made for the quarantined persons.
He said so far the district has remained safe due towholehearted cooperation of the people in observing complete lockdown andtracing those who had visited COVID19 affected countries.
The district administration has created administrativequarantine facilities for 228 persons while the hospital quarantine facilityhas been augmented to 220 persons, CMO Anantnag Mukhar Ahmad said.
It has also equipped the medical staff by providing 570PPEs, 2350 N-95 masks, 37000 triple layer masks, 1200 sanitizers,10050 gloves, 3050 disposable gowns, 6200 Shoe Covers and 200 headcovers forfrontline medicals officials.