Restrictions tightened as Kashmir records second COVID-19 death

Restrictions on the movement and assembly of people inKashmir to contain the spread of the coronavirus were intensified on Sunday asthe union territory recorded its second COVID-19 death, a day after 13 freshcases were confirmed, officials said.

The restrictions on the movement and assembly of people inKashmir continued for the 11th consecutive day on Sunday, they said.

The officials said the curbs across the Valley have beentightened to minimise the movement of the people in order to contain the spreadof the virus.

The tighter restrictions came in the wake of the death ofsecond COVID-19 patient early Sunday. He was among the 13 people who testedpositive for the virus on Saturday, which was the highest in a single day.

Most of the roads in the valley have been sealed off andbarriers have been erected at several places by the security forces to checkthe unwanted movement of the people and to enforce the lockdown for containingthe spread of the coronavirus, the officials said.

The administration has asked the people to cooperate with itand warned of action for violating the prohibitory orders.

The authorities at several places have sought help from'Imams' (clerics) to appeal to the people to stay indoors.

The clerics had asked the people to offer prayers at homeand avoid the mosques.

While the Prime Minister announced the country-wide lockdownon Tuesday evening, the union territory administration here had on Sundayannounced a lockdown across Jammu and Kashmir till 31 March as part of itsefforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The administration said people involved in essentialservices including healthcare personnel have been exempted from therestrictions.

The district administrations have put in place a mechanismto ensure uninterrupted supplies and deliveries of essentials to the generalpublic. Essential commodities will be home-delivered to the residents as partof the mechanism.

Markets across the valley were shut and public transport wasoff the roads with only pharmacies and groceries allowed to open, the officialssaid.

Educational institutions across Kashmir have been closed,while all public places including gymnasiums, parks, clubs and restaurants havebeen shut down more than a week before the nationwide lock down announced bythe Prime Minister.

Restrictions were first imposed in many parts of the valleyon March 19 to contain the spread of the virus. The measures were taken after a67-year-old woman from the Khanyar area of the city, who had returned on March16 from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, tested positive for COVID-19.

The total number of positive cases in the valley has gone upto 24 and in the Union territory to 33.

Two patients have recovered from the disease, while two others have succumbed.