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Srinagar: The SMHS hospital Srinagar has shifted COVID-19 isolation ward to casualty, triggering concern among doctors and general patients.

A number of doctors who spoke to GNS said that the decision will lead to a disaster and requested the authorities to reconsider the decision. Rather, they urged them to shift the isolation ward where there is least public movement.

“The casualty itself means that there will be the rush of patients which cannot be controlled as all of them are acute cases,” a doctor said but requested anonymity.

Opposite to the isolation ward, the doctor says, is the medicine casualty ward and whosoever comes out from there will have to pass through the same lobby as the isolation ward.

“There are many wards in the hospital which are lying vacant but the administration has failed to create an isolation ward in those places for reasons better known to them,” the doctor added.

Another doctor said that the way to CT scan and X-ray is through the isolation ward. “There is no justification in having the isolation ward in the casualty which is a common pathway for all the patients and staff,” the doctor, who also urged not be named, said. “I can tell you, the SMHS hospital is going to burst anytime with the infection of coronavirus,” the doctor said, adding, “The word isolation means that there should be nobody around and imagine medicine casualty just opposite to isolation and then CT and X-ray share the common way”.

The doctor said that the wards are lying vacant but the administration is unable to shift the isolation in any of them.

An official from the administration termed the decision unfair and perplexing. “The decision seems to be deliberate as it would ensure patients despite complication will avoid visiting the hospital,” the official said. “It seems to be an unjust decision and needed to be reconsidered immediately.

When contacted by GNS, Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Nazir Choudhary refused to comment over the decision and requested to contact GMC authorities.

However, repeated attempts to reach the GMC principal over the phone for the comment did not fructify. (GNS)

Srinagar: Police on Tuesday booked another prominent journalist — Gowher Geelani “for unlawful activities through his posts and writings on Social Media platform”.

“Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone, Srinagar has received information through reliable sources that an individual namely “Gowher Geelani” is indulging in unlawful activities through his posts and writings on Social Media platform which are prejudicial to the national integrity, sovereignty and security of India,” a police statement issued here said.

“The unlawful activities include glorifying terrorism in Kashmir Valley, causing disaffection against the country and causing fear or alarm in the minds of public that may lead to commission of offences against public tranquility and the security of State,” the statement said.

The statement further said that several complaints have also been received against the said individual for threatening and intimidation. A Case FIR No. 11/2020 under the relevant sections of law has been registered at Cyber Police Station Kashmir and investigation initiated.

Srinagar: Experts have warned that elderly and persons with low immunity are more vulnerable to Covid-19 as they are at greater risk of contracting the virus.

Talking to new agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), renowned flu expert of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Nisar ul Hassan said that elderly and persons with low immunity are more vulnerable to Covid-19 because of physiological changes that come with ageing and potential underlying heath conditions.

He said that there are several factors which make elderly people and persons with low immunity vulnerable to Coronavirus. “As people get older, it is more frequent that they have co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, renal failure and arthritis. Many co-morbid conditions both the number and type of co-morbid conditions, predispose people to infections,” he said.

He said that people who get older there is Immunosenescence among them which means their immune system doesn’t function well and the combination of increased co-morbid conditions and the decrease in activity of the immune system can make people more prone to infections.

“Our body is constantly bombarded by pathogens like bacteria, fungi and viruses that make us sick and it is our body’s defence system that fights against these invaders,” he said adding that even before we are born, our body starts producing B-cells and T-cells (types of white blood cells) that can recognize pathogens and blocks their growth.

He said that during an infection, our B-cells proliferate and produce antibodies that grab pathogens and block their ability to spread within the body and T-cells work by recognizing infected cells and killing them and together T-cells and B-cells make adaptive immune system.

“People with low immune systems are weaker and when a pathogen invades the difference between illness and health is a race between how fast the pathogen can spread and how fast immune response can react without causing too much damage,” he said adding that as people grow older, their innate and adaptive immune responses change, and there is shifting balance.

“Due to their weak immune system, aged people are more vulnerable to infectious disease and the underlying heart disease, diabetes or kidney issues weakens their body’s ability to fight,” Dr, Nisar said adding that people in J&K have died due to their weak immune system and that was due to their underlying health condition and not due to Covid-19.

As per the data available with KNO people below 40 have 0.2% chances of dying, people of age group 40-50 have a 0.4%, people in their 60s have 1.3%, people in their 70s have 3.6%, people in 80s have 8% and people over 80 have 14.8% chances of dying due to Covid-19.

Data also suggests that over 95% of deaths occurred in the age group of above 60 years. More than 50% of all fatalities involved people aged 80 years or older.

Reports show that 8 out of 10 deaths are occurring in individuals with at least one co-morbidity, particularly those with cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, but also with a range of other chronic underlying conditions.

Pertinently in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, so far 5 persons have died due to Covid-19 and all of them were from the age group of over 50 years.

On 17 April, a 70-year-old man from Arampora Sopore died at JVC Bemina, on 8th April, a 61-year-old lady from Udhampur died at GMC Jammu and on 7th April, a 54-year-old man from Bandipora died at SMHS Srinagar.

On 29 March, a 50-year-old man from Tangmarg area died at CD hospital and on 25th March, a 65-year-old Tableegi preacher from Hyderpora died at CD hospital who was the first person to die of Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)

Pampore: Two case were presumed to be positive, one each and Chandhara (Pampore) and Chachkoot (Awantipora) today, and panic gripped these areas!

It is to inform everyone that both cases are Negative!

Today, Rapid Antibody Tests conducted on them showed signs of being weakly positive. Administration and Health authorities immediately swung into action and isolated the families/immediate contacts!! Repeat tests and further screening has revealed they are all fine!

Pertinently, their Swab Tests were found to be Negative last week!!
Families are returning to their homes.

– Tehsildar Pampore Ishtiyaq Mohidin on his Facebook Profile.

Srinagar: The female photojournalist who was booked for her objectionable Facebook posts under Unlawful Activities and Prevention Act (ULPA) was today questioned at Cyber police wing and later allowed to go home

“Since there is an FIR, questioning is part of the legal proceedings. She was questioned by the Investigating Officer (IO) concerned. She hasn’t been detained,” Superintendent of Police Cyber Police Wing Kashmir Tahir Ashraf told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Earlier, the female journalist in her tweet had stated: “So wish me good luck because it’s time to defend my rights as a journalist. Going inside Cyber police station.”

Booking the female journalist under ULPA had evoked a sharp criticism from journalist fraternity of Kashmir including the Press Club. The press fraternity of Kashmir has demanded dropping of charges against the female journalist forthwith—(KNO)

‘Traders justify, Director FCS&CA says, ‘Will register an FIR against offenders’

Srinagar: Acute shortage of livestock due to the lockdown in Kashmir has led to a sharp rise in prices of mutton.

The meat eaters maintained that a kilogram of mutton which was sold at ₹500 to ₹550 has now been shot up to ₹600 to ₹700.As per the Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), the rate of motton per Kg is ₹400.

According to news agency KINS, the people here said that despite the thriving demand for meat in Kashmir, the price has left a hole in their pockets due to clampdown over coronavirus outbreak.

“Some mutton sellers who are able to sell mutton were found selling it at ₹600 to ₹700 a kg. A kilogram of mutton which I usually purchase at , ₹500 was sold me to ₹600,” Arslan Ahmad who recently purchased 2 kg of mutton from Lalbazar Srinagar told KINS.

Another resident of Bemina who had managed to buy meat from downtown area of Srinagar said that he purchased meat at ₹700 per kg.
However justifying high prices of mutton, traders said that they are compelled to purchase locally reared animals, which are usually costlier than the stock coming from other states.

Since the lockdown is in place, Kashmir is facing severe shortage of mutton due to the lack of supply that used to come from Punjab, Haryana and New Delhi.

“We are finding it extremely difficult to source livestock. With much difficulty, we have been able to get few sheep locally just to keep the business alive,” revealed the trader.
He said that locally reared animals are usually costlier than the stock coming from other states.

Another dealer said that shopkeepers are somehow arranging sheep through their contacts. “Retail rates have increased for obvious reasons as they are buying livestock at a higher price. Moreover, only a few retailers get local supply, which too is not smooth because of lockdown,” the dealer said.

One of the Mutton sellers here in Qamarwari known for quality mutton has never opened his shop for business since the lockdown. “In normal situation we slaughter about 5 to 10 sheep. But with the non-availability of mutton and keeping in mind the lockdown, we did not open our shop,” he said.

Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association General Secretary, Mehraj-ud- Din however told KINS that it was wrong to sell meet on higher prices. “Yes we have also received complaints that some of the mutton retailers are selling meat on higher prices. It is illegal and wrong, I urge them not to indulge in such wrongdoings,” he said.

He however said that the department has fixed rate in 2016 and till date they have not reviewed the rate. He urged the government to fix the fresh rates for mutton.

The General Secretary said that dozens of mutton dealers and meat sellers are facing huge losses. “We were yet to recover the losses inflicted on us by long shutdown due to roll back of Article 370. Now the pandemic has come again as our biggest enemy,” he maintained.

Director Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Bashir Ahmad told KINS that they will take strict action against the offenders. “If anybody is found selling meat on exorbitant rates, we will lodge FIR against him. Let people come to us with the complaints we will take action and even put the offenders in the jail,” he maintained. (KINS)