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  • Coronavirus | 72 therapeutics trial underway, 211 in planning stages: FDA

    PTI

    To date, the FDA has issued 44 individual emergency use authorisations for test kit manufacturers and laboratories

    A top Trump administration health official has said that as many as 72 COVID-19 therapeutics trial are underway and 211 in planning stages in a bid to find the cure for coronavirus.

    “We are leaving no stone unturned to find the treatment for COVID-19… We don’t have any approved therapeutics for COVID-19 but we are actively involved with the academic, commercial and private sector to find it,” FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn told reporters at a White House news conference.

    “Seventy-two trials of therapeutics are underway in the United States under FDA oversight and 211 are in the planning stages, so we expect to see more. This includes convalescent plasma as well as antiviral therapies,” Hahn added. According to Hahn, work is continuing on finding a vaccine. FDA has authorised two firms on vaccine trials.

    Hahn said that the FDA has told manufacturers that in order to market anti-body tests in the U.S., they have to validate their tests. So far, the U.S. has authorised four and more are in the pipeline, he added.

    The FDA is also helping make antibody tests that are used to detect natural immunity these “These are just one part of FDA’s larger response effort. They can play a role in helping move the economy forward by helping healthcare professionals identify those who have immunity to the COVID-19,” he asserted.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has worked with more than 380 test developers who have said they will be submitting emergency use authorisations (EUA) requests to FDA for tests that detect the virus. To date, the FDA has issued 44 individual emergency use authorisations for test kit manufacturers and laboratories. In addition, 19 authorised tests have been added to the EUA letter of authorisation for high complexity molecular-based laboratory developed tests (LDTs).

  • Covid-19 | India records largest single-day spike in cases

    India records largest single-day spike of 1,752 cases; toll hits 723

    PTI

    Over 9 lakh persons are under active COVID-19 surveillance in India, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday, as the total number of cases reached 23,452. The death toll stood at 723.

  • Two militants, aide killed in Pulwama encounter

    Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Goripora area of Awantipora

    PTI

    Two militants and a “hardcore” militant associate were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

    Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Goripora area of Awantipora in the south Kashmir district in the early hours of Saturday after receiving specific information about the presence of some militants there, a police official said.

    The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon the forces, who retaliated, he said.

    In the ensuing gunfight, two militants and one “hardcore” associate of the militants were killed, the official said.

    He said searches were going on in the area and further details were awaited.

  • Covid-19 | Many areas in Anantnag declared as Red Zone

    Srinagar: With 14 new cases from the area authorities have decided to declare many areas in Anantnag District as Red Zone, with increased restrictions for Covid-19

    Further details awaited

  • 14 more test positive in Kashmir

    Srinagar: Forteen more persons tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday in Anantnag district, taking the number of COVID-19 patients in Kashmir to 411 and Jammu 57.

    ACR Anantnag also in his latest tweet confirmed about 14 cases of Postive. The officer wrote in tweet:

    Pushroo – 1
    Kutheir – 3
    Kharpora (Larnoo, Kokernag- Division) – 10

    Figures aside, just remember the boundaries are too penetrable.

    We can guard it only by being more responsible!

  • Pre-Dawn Gunfight breaks out in Awantipora

    Srinagar: A pre-dawn encounter broke between goverment forces and militants in Goripora Area of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama District on Saturday.

    Reports reaching GNS said that a joint team of Police and army’s 55 RR launched cordon and search operation in Goripora.

    As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering an encounter.

    A senior police officer also confirmed to GNS about the exchange of firing between forces and militants.

    As per the sources two militants are believed be trapped.

    Till this report was being filed gunfight was going on.

    (GNS)

  • COVID-19 casts shadow on Kashmir’s vegetable produce

    Growers worried over supply chain due to lockdown

    Srinagar: Vegetables growers in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory are worried as they are unable to sell their produce due to strict lockdown in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

    Farmers from different areas of Kashmir said that they were earning good by growing crops like Peas and other vegetables earlier, but lockdown is hitting their livelihood badly as they are unable to sell their produce.They said that have suffered very much damage this year due to lockdown and is likely to hit their pea produce as well.

    Khurshid Ahmad, a farmer from Pampore area of Pulwama told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that over thousand households were gaining the share in vegetable market and were eyeing to send peas to different states of India this year.

    “We produce pea in April and there remains a very demand of peas in many states of India like Banglore,” he said, adding that this year it seems “we won’t be able to take our produce to local market and can’t even think about to carry our produce outside India.”

    He said that in last two years, Patalbagh village which consists of 500 households in Pampore belt has sold pea produce worth Rs 2.3 crore but this year covid-19 lockdown is hitting the prospectus of the vegetable produce.

    Another Famer of the locality said that Pampore and its adjacent villages produce pea on over 400 Kanals of land as commercial crop and even a small farmer earns Rs 30,000 to 40,000 per year after selling the pea produce.

    “This area is entirely dependent on vegetable produce and no farmer in the area is tempted to grow banned crops like poppy or cannabis,” he told KNO. Vegetable produce is helping whole area in making their economic condition better but the lockdown has kept all the locals in suspense this year.

    “Our peas are almost ready and green peas will be remain available for about one month after which they will dry up,” he added. The growers urged the government to ensure supply chain so amid lockdown so that pea and other vegetables reach the markets on time and they are saved from facing losses—(KNO)

  • Abducted cop rescued, 2 militants killed in Anantnag shootout: Police

    Anantnag: A police abducted by militants was rescued while as two militants were killed and a policeman was injured at in a brief shootout at Arwani area of Bijbehera in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police said today evening.

    A police official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that two militants who were travelling along with an abducted policeman, were stopped near a naka laid by the police and the army at Kharpora, Arwani in Bijbehera area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. “The militants, however fired at the police naka and tried to flee. They were killed in a brief shootout while as the abducted cop was rescued,” he said, requesting anonymity.

    In the exchange of firing, a police man also sustained injury and was removed to nearby medical facilty for treatment.

    Sources in the police told KNO that the two slain had recently joined militancy and were affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit. It may be recalled that earlier, a police man constable Sartaj Ahmed Itoo of Sheerpora area of Yaripora, Kulgam district of South Kashmir was abducted by the militants.

    Acting on a tip off that the militants along with the abducted cop were travelling in a vehicle, a joint naka was laid where militants opened fire when they were signaled to stop. “This triggered a brief shootout in which two militants were killed. Their identity is being ascertained,” he said—(KNO)

  • Consume packed dates, refrain from those sold in open: Div Com Kashmir to people

    Greets people on the eve of fasting month of Ramadhan

    Srinagar: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole Friday said that people should consume packed dates instead of those sold in open and should wash the packet properly before eating them.

    Talking exclusively to News Agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Divisional Commissioner Kashmir recommended consumption of packed dates and asked people to desist from consuming those sold in open.

    He said people should avail the packed dates in the month of Ramadhan and consume them rather than going for those sold in open in market without any packing. The Divisional Commissioner said in order to maintain hygiene people should buy packed dates and wash them properly before eating and that’s good for health.

    He also said that dates have no health related concerns, “Dates sold in open are exposed to dust and become unsafe to eat, people should consume packed dates adopting proper hygiene”, he said.

    Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner also greeted the people on the occasion of Ramadhan and prayed that the month be the harbinger of peace and harmony in J&K—(KNO)

  • Senior SKIMS Bemina Doc claimed he got exposed to COVID-19 patient, but ‘refused to go for administrative quarantine’

    Srinagar: In a startling revelation, a senior doctor at SKIMS Medical College Bemina has claimed he got exposed to COVID-19 patient, but allegedly refused to go for administrative quarantine.

    The SKIMS Bemina College has been receiving coronavirus patients since April 3.

    On April 11, a senior doctor of the hospital brought into the notice of hospital administration that he got exposed to COVID-19 patient. He told the authorities that he won’t attend duties as he needs to be home quarantined.

    After which Medical Superintendent SKIMS Hospital wrote a letter to Principal SKIMS Medical College that a doctor (name withheld) has stated that he has got exposed to COVID-19 patient during duty on April 11 and is under home quarantine.

    Subsequently, Principal issued an order, a copy of which lies with news agency KINS, which reads, “As reported by the doctor, that he has got exposed to COVID-19 positive patient in the ward and has started isolation. As per the guidelines laid down for the said purpose in J&K, he has to be shifted to administrative quarantine immediately and accordingly vehicle and security guard with well protected cover to be transferred to the quarantine centre at Zakura as conveyed by the DHO and the Coordinator SKIMS Medical College Hospital.”

    After which, the Medical Superintendent SKIMS Medical College Hospital issued another order. The letter a copy of which is in possession of KINS reads, “In reference to letter received from Principal, following staff are directed to ensure transfer of doctor from home to quarantine at Zakura. Deployment monitor will make a vehicle available for the said purpose with the protective gear of driver of the said vehicle. Senior security supervisor SKIMS MCH to depute a security personal with vehicle which will go to pick-up the professor from his residence to quarantine centre Zakura and later provide a report in this regard. On-duty RHA will ensure that the vehicle leaves from hospital premises with the required staff for necessary action.”

    A top official told KINS on condition of anonymity that when the vehicle was sent to his home, the doctor surprisingly had said officials he was not exposed to COVID-19. “He wanted to be home quarantined not at Zakura to evade from performing duties. He then communicated to administration that he was not exposed as he was wearing full protective gear. Since then he is coming to hospital for few hours but not going inside wards to see the patients,” the official claimed.
    The official said the administration has also sought explanation from the said doctor for “unauthorisedly” giving statements to media about coronavirus as he was not heading the COVID management team at SKIMS Bemina.

    Several top officials of the SKIMS Bemina refused to comment on the issue. (KINS)