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  • 15 More Test Positive, J&K’s Covid-19 Tally Mounts To 561

    Srinagar: Fifteen more people have tested positive of the novel coronavirus in Kashmir, taking the number of the Covid-19 patients in J&K to 561.

    Official sources told GNS that among them, 10 were confirmed at Viral Diagnostic Lab of SKIMS Soura and include five from Baramulla, four from Shopian and one from Kupwara.

    Five other cases were confirmed at the COVID-19 testing laboratory at Chest Disease hospital Dalgate and include four from Anantnag district and one Pulwama.

    As per the official data, there are now 561 cases in Jammu and Kashmir and 58 of them are in Jammu division. (GNS)

  • Two health workers test positive in Anantnag

    Anantnag: Two health workers were found infected with Covid-19 in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday.

    Both these employees have come in contact with previous infected persons mostly from Shangus area.

    Sources told KNT that a health employee at PHC Nowgam and another posted at Shangus was tested positive. Both these health workers were put in quarantine and their samples were taken a couple of days ago.

    Four fresh cases were reported in Anantnag today till the filing of this report.

    Out of 550 positive cases, 380 are Active Positive, 164 have recovered and 7 have died so for in Jammu and Kashmir. (KNT)

  • Police foil attempt of people to escape from quarantine centre

    Many injured in lathi charge

    Anantnag: Police charged people with canes after they tried to escape from quarantine centre in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

    Over 100 people have been put under quarantine in a college at Khanabal Anantnag. These people allege that they have been deprived of every facility and are virtually living in a hell.

    Sources told KNT that these people who hail from different areas of Anantnag tried to escape from the quarantine centre. Police was informed who charged protesters with canes, resulting in the injuries of several people.

    “What is our fault? We are being treated like criminals. There is no facility for us and when we showed concern, were beaten to pulp,” they said.

    An official from district administration said that they are providing every facility to the people put in quarantine. “We are trying to upgrade and equip all quarantine centres with every facility,” he said. (KNT)

  • Kerala govt begins registration for return of it’s citizens from abroad

    More than one lakh Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) have reportedly enrolled on Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) website after it began the registration process for bringing back people from various countries on Sunday.

    As expected, a majority of the applicants were from the United Arab Emirates. As many as 45,430 persons, which accounted for 45 per cent of the total applications so far, were from Dubai, followed by 11,668 from Qatar, 11,365 Saudi Arabia, 6,350 from Kuwait, 4,375 from Oman, and 2,092 from Bahrain.

    Only 321 people from the United States have evinced their interest in coming back despite the exponential rise in the number of COVID cases. US recorded 960,000 cases on Sunday, and the deaths surpassed 54,700.

    As many as 621 people from the UK and over 100 from Asian countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, too applied for return.

    Kerala government has urged the Centre to give preference to people with expired visiting visas, aged, pregnant women, children and critically ill first patients while screening applications.

    Registration continues

    The number is expected to rise in the coming days. NORKA has not set any deadline for the submissions.

    Those who are interested to return may register their names with NORKA’s website:

    http://www.registernorkaroots.org

    after getting themselves tested for COVID-19 and obtaining a negative certificate.

    The state government is awaiting nod from the centre to bring people back from abroad.

    On Sunday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan promised to set up COVID testing centres at all four international airports in the state during a video conference with the representatives of Kerala community in various Gulf countries.

    NDTV reported, quoting government sources, that the ministry of external affairs has started planning for the evacuation of Indian nationals abroad. This being done in coordination with the Civil Aviation Ministry, Air India, state governments and Indian missions abroad, said the report.

    Protocol for returnees

    All returnees should follow these norms:

    • All returnees should remain in home quarantine for 14 days even their tests at the airports retuned negative.

    • Those who cannot stay at home should stay at the government-run quarantine facilities.

    • Relatives should desist from receiving the returnees at the airports.

    • All the returnees should go home directly and should not visit friends or relatives en route

    • Those who arrive with COVID symptoms will be shifted to hospitals for further tests.

  • 2nd phase: First positive case surfaces in Pulwama

    Pulwama: First positive case has surfaced in the second phase in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Authorities had declared Pulwama district Covid-19 free zone. In the first phase the district witnessed three confirmed cases but all these three patients were discharged after their recovery.

    “At present there was no active Coronavirus case in Pulwama district, but unfortunately, from Rohmu village a patient who was in quarantine in a school has been tested positive,” Dr Mir Mushtaq told KNT.

    He said that infected person is a driver by profession and has travel history. “He was asymptomatic, but in quarantine, he started developing symptoms and later tested positive,” he added.

    In Kashmir Valley Bandipora tops the table of confirmed cases followed by Srinagar, Shopian, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Budgam, Kulgam and Pulwama. (KNT)

  • Tablighis spread COVID19 & now claiming to be ‘corona warriors’, ‘chori aur seena zori’ : Naqvi

    PTI

    NEW DELHI: Amid reports of many Tablighi Jamaat members volunteering to donate their plasma for treatment of COVID-19 patients, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said those who committed the sin of spreading the virus through their “criminal conduct” are now claiming to be “corona warriors”.

    Naqvi said there is a “well-planned dirty Tablighi conspiracy” to prove every Indian Muslim as a Tablighi. His remarks come after 10 members of Tablighi Jamaat, who attended its congregation and tested positive for COVID-19, have come forward and donated their plasma to treat severally-ill coronavirus patients in the national capital.

    Several Tablighi Jamaat members at different quarantine centres have also volunteered to donate their plasma for treatment of COVID-19 patients, sources said.

    “Those Tablighi committed sin to spread corona through their ‘criminal conduct’ are claiming themselves to be ‘corona warriors’. Amazing..instead of being ashamed of their crime,Tablighi are insulting lakhs of #CoronaWarriors,” This is called ‘chori aur seena zori’ #IndiaFightsCorona

    (“Chori aur seena zori” is a Hindi proverb for “The hunt with the hound and run with the camel”)

    In the plasma therapy, transfusion of plasma from recovered patients to severally-ill COVID-19 patients is conducted. Convalescent plasma is an experimental procedure for coronavirus patients.

    The move comes after an appeal was made by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last week to patients, who have successfully recovered from coronavirus, to donate their plasma for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

    Last week, Naqvi, while reacting to instances of Muslims being blamed for the spurt in COVID-19 cases after Tablighi Jamaat congregation here, had said the entire Muslim community cannot be held responsible for one group’s “crime”. He had asserted that most of the minority community members have condemned the group’s action.

  • Erdogan says Turkey will send medical gear to United States

    The UN warns pandemic, which has killed more than 208,000 people, may cause a ‘human rights disaster’.

    Reuters

    ISTANBUL: President Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey will send medical gear including protective suits and masks to the United States on Tuesday to help its efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

    “At a time when even developed countries are asking for Turkey’s support, we have offered our support to a wide geography, from the Balkans to Africa,” Erdogan told reporters following a cabinet meeting.

    “Most recently, we are sending medical aid to the United States on Tuesday, consisting of surgical masks, N95 masks, hazmat suits and disinfectants,” Erdogan said, adding that the shipment would be delivered via a Turkish military plane.

    Erdogan also said a three-day lockdown would be imposed in 31 cities as of Friday, May 1, and that weekend lockdowns would continue until after Eid al-Fitr in late May. He said a schedule for returning to normal would be announced soon.

    Turkey’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased by 2,131 in the past 24 hours, and 95 more people have died, taking the death toll to 2,900, Health Ministry data showed on Monday.

  • Cloud Burst: 3 girls dead, one untraceable

    Srinagar: Three girls died while one is untraceable after cloud burst triggered flash floods in two different areas of South and Central Kashmir on Monday evening.

    Police sources told KNT that a cloud burst triggered flash floods in Chotipora area adjacent to Sedow Forest area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district. Two sisters Summy Jan (24) and Khalida (18) were washed away due to gushing waters. Both these sisters were outside home when the cloud burst incident occurred.

    Sources added locals and police launched a search operation to trace these sisters.
    Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Wajahat Hussain told KNT that soon after the incident a search operation was launched to retrieve the bodies of the duo.

    Local sources said that the body of Summy Jan was retrieved near Amshipora village while Khalida is untraced. The victims are daughters of Ghulam Muhammad Paul.

    In another similar incident two sisters, Rumiysa Jan (14) and Ruksana (6) died in Kutbal area of Central Kashmir’s Chadoora area. Cloud burst here too triggered flash floods in Nallah Rangwadi and washed away both these sisters. (KNT)

  • Non-Covid patients suffer amid corona crisis: DAK

    Srinagar: As Kashmir valley focuses excessively on COVID-19, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday said it is harrowing time for people with other diseases and conditions.

    “Patients with non-covid health problems face immense hardships,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

    “People are not getting health care for other problems,” he said.

    Dr Nisar said patients with acute or chronic illness who regularly need to see their doctors are not doing so.
    “It is not just fear that is keeping people out of hospitals, but the perception that hospitals are closed for all non-covid patients,” he said.

    “Patients are told that there are no resources and staff to provide care for non-covid patients and that everything is deferred,” he added.

    Dr Nisar said we have come across with many instances of patients not seeking medical attention even for emergencies. Many people are dying at home – and some of them have treatable condition.

    “We see patients with heart attacks, strokes presenting late with all complications leading to delayed intervention and recovery,’ he said.
    “Also, patients with acute abdominal conditions like appendicitis, cholecystitis due to gall stones present late with perforation, peritonitis and sepsis, needing emergency surgery and prolonged stay in ICU because of delay in seeking treatment,” he added.

    Dr Nisar said patients with diabetes and hypertension present acutely with complications because they don’t seek medical attention early in case of abnormal levels.

    “Cancer patients are coming with spread of their disease because cancer surgeries have been postponed,” he said.

    Dr Nisar said we must understand that amid the outbreak, people still get heart attacks, strokes. Babies will still be born and appendixes will still burst.

    “Health authorities need to get the message out that hospitals are taking care of non-covid patients and they have system in place to protect them,” he said.

    “As we fight covid-19, health care providers should make sure that other patients are seen in hospitals. The pandemic toll will be much worse if it leads people avoid care for other life-threatening, yet treatable conditions,” said Dr Nisar

  • Grand Mufti Urges Kashmir woman to make Hazrat Fatima (RA) their role model, follow her footsteps

    Grand Mufti pays tribute to Hazrat Fatima (RA)

    Srinagar: Kashmir’s Grand Mufti, Nasir-ul-Islam on Monday said life and dedication of Hazrat Fatima (RA) towards the path of Allah and teachings of the Prophet (SAW) and her contribution to mankind is a beacon of light for all Muslims.

    In a statement issued Mufti Nasir stressed that by remaining dedicated in the way of Allah and following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in letter and spirit, Hazrat Fatima Zahra (RA) had shown the true path to the Muslims by leading her own life with piousness and simplicity.

    On the anniversary of daughter of beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Hazrat Fatima Zahra (RA)– that falls on 3rd of Ramazan, Mufti Nasir paid glowing tributes to Hazrat Fatima (RA) and termed her as a “role model” for womenfolk, stating that her life has been an example for all the Muslim women – daughters, sisters and mothers.

    Muft Nasir urged Muslim women to follow in letter and spirit the path Hazrat Fatima (RA) choose for herself and thereby help bring an Islamic revolution. He said just by paying glowing tributes to the chaste and the pure one, who spent much of her time in prayers, reciting the holy book of Qur’an and in other acts of worship, Muslims would not able to repay Hazrat Fatima (RA) for her good deeds toward humanity but needed to adopt her outlook and ways and in every walk of life.

    He said entire family of Hazrat Fatima(RA)worked hard and offered priceless sacrifices for Islam and there can be no best example other than the battle of Karbala where Hazrat Fatima’s son Hazrat Imam Hussain offered priceless sacrifice for the great cause of Islam along with little children and all his companions