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  • Vaccination hugely reduces chances of death: NHM Analysis

    Srinagar: National Health Mission in its analysis with regard to Covid-19 mortality in Jammu and Kashmir has stated that 93% of Covid-19 positive critical cases who died from the mid-April were unvaccinated while 7% were partially vaccinated.

    It said that it clearly establishes that vaccination hugely reduces chances of death.

    The NHM analysis as per news agency Kashmir News Trust states that delayed testing can prove really fatal. It said that 46% of deaths occurred within 3 days of Testing positive, thus indicating that they were well into late stages of infection before they got tested.

    NHM has asked patients not to be denial mode of your symptoms and get tested immediately so that treatment could start early.

    The analysis further states that delay in hospitalization directly increases likelihood of mortality. It says that 49.37% of total deaths were of those who despite being symptomatic arrived late in hospitals.

    NHM has asked patients not to rely on self-medication at home. (KNT)

  • Govt extends Corona Curfew across J&K till May 24

    Srinagar, May 15: The government on Saturday extended Corona Curfew across Jammu and Kashmir till May 24 in order to prevent the COVID-19 cases from spreading.

    According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Directorate of Information and Public Relation (DIPR) in a tweet informed the extension in Corona Curfew for seven more days.

    “The Corona Curfew imposed in all 20 distts of J&K till 7 am on Monday, 17/5/21 is extended further till 7 am on Monday, 24/5/21. The curfew will be strict except for a few essential services,” DIPR-J&K tweeted.

    In wake of the spike in the COVID-19 cases, the Corona Curfew continued to remain in place across Jammu and Kashmir from April 29 evening—(KNO)

  • Many Covid-19 deaths go unreported in Kashmir

    Srinagar: The Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday said that official figures of Covid-19 deaths are an underestimate as many deaths due to the virus go unreported in the valley.

    “The actual number of people dying from Covid is higher than what is reported,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

    “The reported death toll is an undercount and only provides a snapshot of the true toll virus has taken,” he said.

    Dr Hassan said only those deaths make it to the official count that have been confirmed as Covid-19 through RT-PCR testing.

    “But the test can miss more than 30 percent of positive cases,” he said.

    “We see many patients who test negative on RT-PCR test, but show CT features consistent with Covid-19 disease, but they are not reported,” he added

    Dr Hassan said that while elderly people have the highest rates for hospitalization and death, many are not tested for Covid in hospitals.
    “Older people don’t develop typical Covid symptoms. In them, feeling weak or confused may be the only sign of having the infection,” he said.
    “When patients lack classic signs, health professionals are less likely to think of the diagnosis. This means many patients die undiagnosed,” he added.
    The DAK President said that many Covid deaths are hidden among other diseases.

    “Many patients with heart or lung disease die of Covid, but their death is attributed to their underlying condition,” he said.

    Dr Nisar said that many people with Covid symptoms don’t get tested for the virus because of the fear of stigma and quarantine of family members.

    “Social stigma makes people hide their illness and keep them away from seeking health care,” he said.
    He said that people fear that if they die of Covid-19, they will not get the decent burial and only few will come to their funeral.

    “As a result, people are choosing to die at home, unrecorded,” he said.

    “Accurate data is vitally important for appropriate response which is key to mitigate further disaster.

    To deal with the problem, we must understand how bad it is.

    Poor quality data equals poor decision which in turn leads to lost opportunity to improve population health in a crisis.

    Without accurate tallies, response won’t be enough to defeat the outbreak,” said Dr Nisar.

  • Pandemic 2nd year set to be ‘far more deadly’: WHO chief

    (The Kashmir Today) – The WHO said Friday that the Covid-19 pandemic’s second year was on track to be its deadliest, as he urged rich countries to donate vaccines rather than jab children.

    “We’re on track for the second year of this pandemic to be far more deadly than the first,” the World Health Organization’s director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.

    “I understand why some countries want to vaccinate their children and adolescents, but right now I urge them to reconsider and to instead donate vaccines to Covax”, he added.

    AFP

  • J&K Reports 34 More Covid-19 Deaths, Toll Crosses 3000 Mark

    Srinagar, May 14: At least 34 persons, including a 39-year-old woman, succumbed to covid-19 since last evening so far, taking the fatality count to 3001, officials said on Friday.

    18 deaths were reported at GMC Jammu while sixteen persons died at various hospitals and make-shift facilities for covid-19 management in Kashmir
    Valley, the officials told GNS.

    Among others, they said, the victims include a 60-year-old from Gagoo Humhamma Budgam who died at SKIMS Bemina, 11 days after he was admitted to SKIMS Bemina.

    A 65-year-old woman Nowgam Srinagar who died three days after she was admitted to the SKIMS Bemina facility, they said.

    A 56-year-old man from Chake Badernath Pulwama died at SKIMS Soura, soon after he was admitted, they said.

    A 39-year-old woman from Dalgate Srinagar died at SKIMS Soura where she was referred from JLNM today, they said.

    A 90-year-old man from Lar Ganderbal died three days after he was admitted to the SKIMS Soura, they said.
    A 50-year-old man from Ladhoo Pampore died at SMHS Hospital Srinagar, they said.

    Three patients died at a facility set up at Indoor Stadium Baramulla and include 70-year-old from Nowgam Kandi Sangrama Baramulla, 57-year-old from Kanispora Baramulla and 75-year-old woman from Sherwani Colony Baramulla.

    Two patients died at GMC Anantnag –85-year-old from Srangsoo Ashmuqam, 70-year-old man from Khanbal.

    The other victims include 52-year-old man from Wudhpora Handwara died at SDH Kupwara, 70-year-old from Buran Pattan died at SDH Sopore, a 56-year-old man from Barzulla died at SKIMS Soura (four days after he was admitted) a 50-year-old man from Batmaloo died at SMHS and a 70-year-old man from Katapora died ten days after he was admitted to SMHS. (GNS)

  • All Muslims should observe one day qadha fasting: Former Chairman Hilal Committee; Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman

    Karachi: Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, former chairman of Central Ruwit Hilal Committee, has said that he has been crying all night over the decision of Ruwit Hilal Committee.

    Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman objected to the Ruwit-e-Hilal Committee and said that the government needed a puppet Ruwit-e-Hilal Committee. Did they do it too? I have been crying all night over the decision of the Ruwit Hilal Committee.

    https://twitter.com/TLPFanAccount/status/1392724068693159937

    Mufti Muneeb further said that no minister in our meeting had the courage to sit down.

    https://twitter.com/Umer_Ze/status/1392724433681502209

  • Shawaal Moon Sighted, Eid Tomorrow: Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam

    Srinagar: Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam has said that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow – Thursday – as witnesses have been on record on sighting of the Shawaal moon.

    Witnesses have been on record on sighting the Shawal moon at several places, leading to the conclusion that Eid will be celebrated tomorrow, Islam told Srinagar-based news agency Global News Service (GNS).

    “I felicitate the people of J&K on the auspicious occasion of Eid and pray to Almighty Allah that this auspicious occasion be the harbinger of peace and prosperity for the entire J&K”, the top-cleric said. “We all should seek intervention from Almighty Allah to eradicate us this ongoing Covid menace, wrecking havoc across the globe for two years now”, Islam added.

    Earlier, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee in Pakistan after hours of clamour announced that the Shawal moon has been sighted in the country and that Eid would be celebrated tomorrow. (GNS)

  • Shawwal moon sighted in Pakistan, Eid on Thursday

    The Shawwal crescent moon 1442 sighted in Pakistan, Eid-ul-Fitr 2021 will fall on  Thursday 14 May.

    According to details, the meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Ruet Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad.

    The meeting is also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and the Meteorological Department.

    Meetings of Zonal Ruet Hilal Committees were also held in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar.

    The meeting of the Karachi Zonal Committee was chaired by Hafiz Muhammad Salafi in which Qari Nazir Ahmad Naeemi, Qari Muhammad Iqbal, Maulana Sabir Hussain and other directors participated.

    The Karachi Zonal Committee of Ruet-e-Hilal informed the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee about the evidence. The final announcement has been made by the Central Ruet Hilal Committee.

    The Meteorological Department had said that the new moon of the month of Shawwal was born at 12:01 pm on the night of May 12, the moon was not likely to be visible due to cloudy weather, the met department had announced earlier.

    Mufti Popalzai of Peshawar’s Qasim Khan mosque also announced to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr 2021 tomorrow 13th May Thursday.

    Earlier in the past, Mufti Popalzai has also declared Eid a day earlier than the federal Ruet Hilal committee.

    Peshawar’s Qasim Ali Khan mosque had received 150 testimonies of Shawwal moon sighting from several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    Earlier, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that there is no possibility of seeing the Shawwal moon today.

    He wrote on Twitter that the age of the moon in Pakistan is 13 hours and 42 minutes, so there is no possibility of seeing the moon today.

    The Minister added that those who want to celebrate Eid with Saudi Arabia, have an option to do so, but it is not the wisdom to end the holy month by lying adding that they should just say that they want to celebrate Eid with Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.

    With inputs from Agencies

  • Shawwal Moon Sighted in Peshawar; Peshawar to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Thursday

    Peshawar’s Mufti Popalzai announces Eid on Thursday

    Claims 23 people appeared before committee to record testimonies

    Photo: SAMAA Digital

    Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai has announced that Peshawar will celebrate Eid on Thursday, May 13.

    The unofficial Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan has announced Wednesday that the moon of Shawwal was sighted in several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    A meeting of the unofficial committee chaired by Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai was held at Peshawar’s Masjid Qasim Ali Khan.

    Mufti Popalzai claimed that 23 people personally appeared before the committee to record their testimonies.

    Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee hasn’t received any testimonies

    The meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee on  Shawwal moon sighting is still underway in Islamabad.

    Its chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad told reporters that his committee has so far received no testimonies of moon sighting.

    He urged media not to air unverified news and spread misinformation.

    Eid to be celebrated on May 14, says Fawad 

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan, Fawad Chaudhry had tweeted that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in Pakistan on Friday, May 14. 

    The minister had based his prediction according to the Ruet app and the calendar. However, Chaudhry had clarified in the same tweet that the final decision in this regard will be announced by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

    The information minister said the moon will appear on May 13 and Eid will fall on May 14, according to the calendar and the moon sighting app.

    Eid on Friday, predicts PMD 

    A day earlier, the Meteorological Department had said that Pakistan would observe Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday, as there was “no chance” of citing the Shawwal moon on May 12, Wednesday.

    If the moon is not sighted on Wednesday — Ramadan 29 — then the holy month would extend to 30 days, and the festival of Eid will be celebrated on May 14 — Friday.

    With input from Agencies

  • No curfew relaxation on Eid eve in Kashmir: Div Com PK Pole

    Says COVID-19 doesn’t stop with any special occasion, 40% surplus oxygen available in Valley hospitals, situation under control, Cases may shoot up in coming day, no need to panic

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    Kupwara, May 12: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole Wednesday said that there won’t be any relaxation on Eid-ul-Fitr eve in Kashmir given the steep rise in COVID-19 infection cases while the overall situation is under control in the Valley. He was quick to add that 30-40 per cent of surplus oxygen was available in Kashmir as of now.

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    Pole was on a visit to the border district of Kupwara along with other administrative officials to review COVID preparations put in place by the health authorities and district administration.

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    Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the visit, Divisional Commissioner as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the overall situation in Kashmir is under control while the preventive restrictions put in place up to May 17th will remain in place.

    “There won’t be any sort of relaxation on Eid eve in Kashmir,” he said, adding that Covid 19 does stop on any special occasion.

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    He said that around 175 oxygen-supported beds are available in Kupwara and a plant of 1000 LPM has been made functional at SDH while the occupancy of beds is below 40%. “The Covid situation, however, is good and the cases have started to decline,” Pole said.

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    He said: “We hope that the COVID ends soon but there won’t be any laxity from the administration side and preparations are in full swing to contain the spread,” he said.

    About the situation in Kashmir valley, the Divisional Commissioner said that the overall situation is definitely under control.

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    “The cases will increase in the coming days in Kashmir and that shouldn’t be a source of panic for people,” he said. The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir urged the people to stay away from any such information that leads to health issues mainly mental problems saying that people must stick to things that don’t impact stability.

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    Asked about the oxygen refilling issue faced in Kupwara, he said that the 1000 LPM oxygen plant is already functional here and the cylinders won’t be of that use besides concentrators have been made available.

    Pole said that oxygen is being monitored scientifically outside the states like Maharashtra. “Doctors have conducted the oxygen audit in J&K and stated that around 40% of the oxygen is surplus and there is no question of shortage at any point,” he said.

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    He assured that there is no shortage of vaccines for people aged above 45-years across the valley and the drive is being carried out as per the schedule while the registrations are underway for individuals above 18 years.

    The Divisional Commissioner said that that the COVID-19 situation has not worsened that much in the northern belt of Kashmir and the administration is ensuing preparation while people must cooperate with the government to fight this deadly pandemic and adhere to precautionary measures and not come out unnecessarily—(KNO)

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