Coronovirus threat: First positive case reported in JK
SKIMS Lab becomes functional
Srinagar: A sexagenarian woman traveller, who recently returned from Iran, has tested positive for coronovirus in Jammu and she has met 19 persons who all now are being quarantined, officials said Monday.
Also two more persons have been admitted to SKIMS and SMHS hospitals and doctors are awaiting their test reports.
They said there are over 300 people in Jammu and Kashmir under “active surveillance” who have travel history to places affected with COVID-19.
“A 65-year-old woman who returned from Iran has tested positive,” Dr Shafaqat Khan, Nodal Officer, coronavirus control Jammu and Kashmir, said.
Meanwhile, JK’s Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said that the woman has contacted 19 persons who are have now been put under surveillance and are being quarantined.
The top officer of the J&K UT said there are nearly 300 persons who are under “active surveillance”. Besides, he said that there are several hundred people under “surveillance” and mostly in Jammu’s Sarwal area.
Meanwhile a patient was admitted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) with suspected coronavirus symptoms. The patient had a travel history of place affected with the COVID-19 and has been admitted to the quarantine ward of the Institute.
Director SKIMS Dr A G Ahangar, when contacted said that the patient’s blood sample has been taken and being tested in the SKIMS lab which was made functional for carrying out tests for coronovirus on Monday.
A senior doctor of SKIMS, Kashmir’s only tertiary care hospital, said that seven patients were admitted so far and two of them have been discharged.
Official sources said that one more person was admitted to SMHS’s isolation facility. They said he is the first person to be admitted to SMHS ever since the facility was started and his sample has been taken and sent to SKIMS laboratory.
“The test report is awaited,” they said.
Director Health Service Kashmir, Dr Sumir Mattoo, meanwhile said that there were 195 people under “active surveillance” and 87 of them have completed the “surveillance time”.
Addressing a presser on weekend, Principal Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, Rohit Kansal said that the government was monitoring and reviewing the situation arising out the novel covid-19 closely and there was no need to panic.
The administration has also suspended the class work up to the primary level in six districts of Jammu and Kashmir and according to Kansal, who is also the Government Spokesperson, said it was as a precautionary measure.
“Class work up to primary level has been suspended till March 31, 2020, in Jammu, Samba in Jammu division and Budgam, Baramulla, Srinagar and Bandipora in Kashmir Division. This is just a precautionary move and there is no need to panic”, Kansal had said. He said the government was monitoring and reviewing the situation closely, even as elaborate arrangements have been made to handle the situation.
Listing the measures taken to control and prevent the spread of the virus, he had said 100% self-declaration protocols have already been established at Jammu and Srinagar airports.
“All entrants to Jammu and Kashmir via road are also being monitored at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda respectively. Help desks at Railway stations, Jammu and Katra are also operational,” he had said and added that 100% self-declaration and thermal imaging has also been introduced for all pilgrims visiting the Sri Mata Vaishno Deviji Shrine.
The government has also suspended Biometric attendance in the entire Jammu and Kashmir till March 31 as a precautionary measure. It has also issued advisory against large gatherings.
It has also urged citizens, especially those with travel history to affected countries such as China, Iran, Italy etc to self-declare immediately and to report to the nearest government health facility about any symptoms.
The government has also requested citizens to take basic precautions such as hygiene, hand washing, respiratory etiquette. (GNS)
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