Srinagar: An elderly woman of north Kashmir’s Baramulla town on early Thursday was diagnosed positive for COVID-19.
An official told news agency KINS that , a 70 year woman of old town Baramulla who was admitted at chest hospital Srinagar on Thursday morning tested positive for COVID-19.
Earlier this week a doctor of town was tested positive for the deadly virus. (KINS)
The decision to test PM Imran Khan was made according to a standard operating procedure (SOP), which states that every contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case should undergo a test, officials said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested negative for the Coronavirus, one of his aides said on Wednesday, days after the premier came in contact with a civil society activist who had tested positive for Covid-19.
There was some confusion earlier in the day after Samaa TV news channel reported that Khan underwent a test for Covid-19 on Tuesday, whereas the premier’s focal person for the Covid-19 crisis, Faisal Sultan, clarified that his sample had been collected for testing on Wednesday.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan was tested today for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus strain that causes coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]). The test used was a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). I am happy to report that his test is NEGATIVE,” Firdous Ashiq Awan, special advisor to the prime minister for information and broadcasting, tweeted late on Wednesday.
Earlier, Sultan issued a brief video message that said only the sample had been collected. “The test takes a few hours. We will release the report through official channels once it is received,” he said.
The decision to test Khan was made according to a standard operating procedure (SOP) that states every contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case should undergo a test, officials said.
The news about the test for the prime minister came on the day that the number of Covid-19 cases in Pakistan crossed the 10,000 mark. The country has also recorded 212 deaths while 2,156 people have recovered.
On Tuesday, it emerged that Faisal Edhi, the son of late philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, had tested positive for the novel Coronavirus. Faisal Edhi met Khan on April 15 to hand over a cheque for Rs10 million for the premier’s coronavirus relief fund.
Saad Edhi, the son of Faisal Edhi, told Dawn newspaper that his father began showing symptoms last week, soon after meeting Khan in Islamabad. “The symptoms lasted for four days before subsiding,” Saad said. He added his father was currently in Islamabad and doing better.
Faisal Edhi’s test was conducted at Al-Shifa Hospital in Islamabad last week. A spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation, Muhammad Bilal, told the media that Faisal Edhi had gone into self-isolation.
However, Khan faced considerable criticism, mostly on social media, for continuing to hold meetings and for not going into self-isolation after it became known that Edhi had tested positive. He was also criticised for his government’s decision to allow prayers at mosques, especially during the holy month of Ramzan.
Total number of cases climbs to 2,407
Gujarat’s death toll due to COVID-19 infections has climbed to 103, with 13 new deaths reported on Wednesday, while the number of positive cases have jumped to 2,407, with 229 new cases added on the same day.
The State continues to see a higher number of cases and casualties, a trend that began a week ago.
On Wednesday, as many as 30 patients were discharged after full recovery, bringing the number of patients who have recovered to 179 so far. Of 13 deaths recorded, nine were from Ahmedabad, three were from Vadodara and and one from Surat.
In Ahmedabad, the total number of cases have climbed to 1,501, and 62 deaths, the highest tally in the State. On Wednesday, besides nine deaths, Ahmedabad also reported 128 new positive cases, continuing the trend of over 100 cases per day since a week. So far, 86 patients have recovered and have been discharged in the city. In Surat, the total cases have jumped to 415, with 12 deaths and 13 recoveries, while in Vadodara, the total number of cases has reached 208, and ten patients have succumbed to the infection.
Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has decided to set up another COVID-19 care centre with a 4,000-bed capacity.
Pulwama: The two districts of separate Union Territories including Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir and Kargil in Ladakh are now COVID-19 free as all the positive patients have recovered and have so far been discharged from the hospitals.
Officials from Pulwama told news agency—Kashmir News observer (KNO) that three positive patients from Khaigam, Chandgam and Sangervani village of the district who are members of Tableegi Jamaat have recovered and have been discharged from the hospital.
Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Pulwama, Dr Jameel Ahmad Mir told—KNO that all the three positive patients from the district have recovered and were discharged.
Pertinently, seven villages including Khaigam, Sangerwani, Abhama villages of Tehsil Rajpora and Gudoora, Chandgam, Pinglena and Parigam of Tehsil Pulwama were declared Red Zone while adjoining villages of these Tehsils were declared buffer zones.
Officials said that people of Red zone area were screened four times and no positive case was reported from the district in last 20 days.
Officials from Ladakh also said that all the four positive patients of Kargil district have recovered and were discharged.
Additional District Magistrate Kargil, Sonam Chosjar has said there is no positive case of COVID-19 at Kargil now as fourth positive case from Sankoo area of the district was also discharged on Wednesday.
“We have one suspected patient at the hospital now and many persons from Iran are returning,” he said.
Pertinently, administration also discharged the close contacts of the 4th positive, who were kept in quarantine in Shakar Chiktan area of the district – (KNO)
Srinagar: There would be no congregational Friday and Taraweeh prayers in Jamia Masjid Srinagar for the holy month of Ramadhan in view of the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the grand mosque’s management said on Wednesday.
“In view of the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar keeping in view the strict medical advisories of maintaining social distance by health experts will continue with the suspension of Friday congregations and Taraweeh prayers in Jamia Masjid, till the situation returns to normal, In Sha Allah,” the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar said in a statement issued.
So, it is suggested to Muslims to offer Taraweeh along with the mandatory daily five time prayers at homes and seek Almighty Allah’s refuge from the pandemic, it added.
Meanwhile, the Anjuman has felicitated and expressed good wishes to the Muslim Ummah especially the Muslims of Jammu & Kashmir on the arrival of the holy month of Ramadhan.
The Anjuman prayed to Almighty Allah to “bestow us with Eemaan, Ikhlaas and good health to spend this holy month with full sincerity and dedication”.
Srinagar: Former chairperson Jammu and Kashmir women’s commission Vasundhra Phatak Masoodi has said that she is getting a lot of calls from women in Kashmir complaining about domestic violence amid Covid-19 lockdown.
Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Phatak said that she is getting a lot of distress calls from women in Kashmir complaining about domestic violence against them in one way or the other.
She said that as there is lockdown in the valley like other parts of ths country the women have nowhere to go and they also cannot register their complaints anywhere.
“I try to counsel them over phone. What else can I do for now, it helps a little bit as they feel someone is there to listen to them. But this surely indicates a rise in domestic violence cases in Kashmir,” she said.
There have been many new cases of domestic violence against women in Kashmir but during the lockdown it is quite difficult for them to report these cases.
Shaista (name changed), a teacher by profession said, “As I am a teacher and I have to give lectures online and my in-laws think I am home now and don’t have to do anything else and I should do all the home chores alone. But when I tell them that I have other work to do as well they think I am making excuses. It is causing me mental trauma.”
Many women said “As our husbands and children are home all day now, it is difficult for them to do home chores and we have to manage everything alone. Our husbands don’t help us with anything instead, if meals or anything is not on time, they get angry and start abusing us.”
They further said that they would usually go to their parents place, meet their friends or talk to them over phone to share their pain which help them release some stress. “But now they cannot even talk to anyone and they can’t go anywhere due to the lockdown which has compounded their problems and stress as well.”
It is pertinent to mention that after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A, JK women’s commission was also winded up and new commission is yet to be formed which has made matters even worse for women facing domestic violence.
As it has come under the notice of court, a bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court comprising of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Rajnesh Oswal have suggested certain measures to help women and ensure their safety during the lockdown—(KNO)
Jammu: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Wednesday sought 4G internet to be declared as essential service under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and called for its restoration in Jammu and Kashmir on immediate basis in the larger interest of people, especially students, professionals besides medical diagnostic cum tele-medication centres.
According to statement issued Rana said “The necessity of fast-speed internet has assumed significance following the launch of online academics by both, the government and the private educational institutions, as also the professionals engaged in work from home”, Rana said in a statement, adding that the facility is equally important for medical diagnostic centres to ensure dispatch of findings to those having undergone various routine tests.
Many of the patients have switched over to Tele-counselling due to restrictions on movement which makes high speed internet all the more important, he added.
The Provincial President said the government might have apprehensions or fears about possible misuse of the internet services but that should not be an excuse to punish the entire population of Jammu and Kashmir. There can always be checks and balances by putting in place a robust mechanism of cyber monitoring to book the violators and tackling them as per law. This, he said, can serve as deterrent for the wrong users and, at the same time, not deny the others access to dependable and fast speed internet.
Rana reminded the administration of various public declarations about imparting education online and motivating professionals to work from home, saying this has to be facilitated by restoring 4G, as the present slow speed 2G is an irritant.
He said widespread complaints are being lodged by the stakeholders with regard to denial of the high speed internet and the government should take a call and restore it, sooner the better. He said the 2G internet has become biggest impediment for students, especially younger ones, to keep pace with the online education, as vast chunk of parents cannot afford broadband services.
He feared disruption in normal educational activities due to likely restrictions to continue for some time, saying this may require dependable internet services to such of the students as well who are solely dependent on mobile internet, thus ensuring level play field for all. Therefore, the government must revisit its decision and come to the rescue of mobile phone subscribers who have no option but to bank upon 2G services only as of now, he said and termed denial of 4G internet services as a discrimination.
Rana further elaborated that most of the people, especially senior citizens, are required to undergo frequent routine diagnostic testing and they cannot venture out to collect the reports of their tests due to obtaining lockdown, though samples can be collected from homes. In such a scenario, as also scanning of medical reports by the professionals, high speed internet has become imperative, he added.
The Provincial President described provision of 4G internet as social responsibility of the government, saying the people have been wholeheartedly supporting every initiative to combat corona virus and therefore they deserve a better deal, infested of being deprived of the technological advancement like people in rest of the country, the statement said.
SRINAGAR: Asking people to ensure strict lockdown to combat COVID-19, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has directed district development commissioners that petrol pumps should provide fuel to only those people who are having movement passes.
Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, government has directed security agencies to ensure strict lockdown to contain the virus in the valley.
In another strict measure, district development commissioners have been directed to ensure that fuel is provided to only those people who are having movement passes.
“All the district development commissioners shall strictly ensure that the fuel shall be provided by the petrol pumps only to persons having the movement pass,” read Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, directives to DCs, a copy of which lies with news agency KINS.
The coronavirus cases in Kashmir valley have crossed the 300-mark while four people have died due to the infection so far.
Restrictions remained imposed since March 18 to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Kashmir valley.
The Srinagar DC has issued strict warnings against violations of restrictions as ordered in the district. He directed for strict implementation and adherence to all restrictions ordered until May 3.
Official said authorities have also begun the use of Rapid Antibody Test kits in the Red Zones areas across the valley to check the community spread of the disease.
Bandipora is the worst COVID-19 hit district in the Union Territory of J&K with over 90 positive cases and one death so far. Officials said that over 80 Red Zones were identified in Kashmir division and that such areas will remain red zones up to 42 days, unless no new positive case of COVID-19 is detected.
Srinagar: Dilbag Singh, J&K Director General of Police (DGP) said on Wednesday that Pakistan is now pushing militants suffering with the coronavirus infection into the union territory.
Singh visited quarantine centres in north Kashmir Ganderbal district earlier in the day, especially the one set up inside the Police Training School (PTS) Manigam in the district.
In addition to reviewing the required facilities at the quarantine centre, the police chief also took a review meeting of the security situation in the area.
Interacting with some media persons during his visit, the police chief said till now Pakistan had been sending militants with arms and ammunition into J&K, now the neighbouring country is pushing in militants who are infected with COVID-19.
Singh cautioned people to watch out for these infected militants who could spread the virus in areas they hide in or visit during their subversive activities.
During the recent days there has been a spurt in militant violence in Kashmir. Four militants were killed earlier in the day in a gunfight with the security forces in Shopian district of Kashmir.
(IANS)
Srinagar: Twenty seven more persons tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, taking the number of COVID-19 patients in Kashmir to 351.
Of these cases, sources told GNS that 25 cases were confirmed at SKIMS Soura and two at Chest Disease hospital laboratories.
Of the twenty five samples which returned positive at SKIMS include 14 from Shopian, 6 from Bandipora, 4 from Kupwara and one from Baramulla.
Two of the tests which returned positive at CD are from one each from Anantnag and Bandipora district. (GNS)