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The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday directed the states and Union Territories to take stern action against the violators of the coronavirus lockdown in the country. In a letter addressed to all chief secretaries of the states and UTs, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said violators should be booked and punished under Indian Penal Code.

He said that anyone obstructing enforcement of lockdown could be punishable for jail term of up to two years. He stressed that the lockdown measures issued on March 24 clearly mentioned that any person violating measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC will also be initiated. The 21-day lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

“Anyone making false claims on any matter can be punished up to 2 years of jail with fine and laws,” he said in his letter, adding that also, misappropriation of money or material in disaster-like situations invites 2 years of jail with fine.

“It is requested that for the attention of the public authorities and citizens, the penal provisions under the DM Act and IPC should be widely circulated and for violation of lockdown measures, action under relevant provisions shall be taken by the law enforcement authorities,” he said.

The Home Secretary’s letter comes following reports that people in many cities are roaming openly, thus violating the lockdown and putting many lives at risk. Today is the ninth day of the 21-day lockdown that has been imposed in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

As many as 50 people have lost their lives due to Covid19 and nearly 1900 have been infected. Globally, more than 9 lakh people suffering from coronavirus disease and 44,000 have lost their lives.

Spring is allergy prone, need to see how Covid-19 reacts to poplar allergy, say health experts, fever will be missing in people with allergies

Srinagar, Apr 02 (KNO): Amid the global scare of novel coronavirus, people across Kashmir fear that the Russian poplar trees may prove disaster for them and may help Covid-19 spread more as thick cover of pollen produced by poplars engulf majority of Srinagar and other parts of valley. The health expert, say that April-May is the season when seasonal allergies are at its peak as flowers and trees show full growth while poplars produce thick cover of pollen in the air, but there is no concrete evidence or a study whether pollen would help Caronavirus spread more.

According to Wire Service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Medical experts claim the spring season is allergy prone while in this pandemic scenario, but it would difficult to judge whether the fever and Covid-19 symptoms would aggregative due to pollen.

Russian poplar trees spring shed a cotton-like material carrying seeds which flies in air causing several allergies including respiratory disorders like asthma, bronchitis and infections of throat, chest irritation and frequent sneezing etc.

An unpublished study from Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, reveals that pollen is the commonest and among the pollen it’s the grass pollen with 90 per cent of impact. “70 per cent is a tree locally known as ‘KIKER’, 60 per cent is type of grass regionally known as ‘SUEI’ and there is just 18 per cent of allergic impact due to pollen from poplar trees and it’s not that white cotton causes allergy, it goes unseen, it’s a seed in that cotton which usually keeps it invisible is responsible for triggering the allergies,” the study reads.

Dr. Nisar Ul Hassan, the only flu expert in J&K, ruled out the chances of pollen causing maximum harm to people. “Whenever the spring comes, the allergy is at the door. Spring is the key time for allergies but the most common allergy is pollen, among the pollens 90 per cent is due to grass pollen,” he said.

He said that the commonest irritant still is the dust. “Cutting down the trees doesn’t take away the allergy, one third of the population in Kashmir is suffering from allergies including, cough, sneezing, chest or skin eruption. “There are lot of allergies prevailing in environment including some people being allergic to food, peanut allergies, unknown environmental things, drugs, cloths even man made things can cause allergy and we can’t take away all the things a time,” he said.

He also said fever will be absent in patients with allergy whereas it will be present in COVID-19 patient while other symptoms like coughing sneezing and running nose can have similar symptoms there is no doubt, making it difficult for doctor at times to differentiate between various types of allergies.

“At times it is difficult if people are not able to differentiate between allergy or other viral things here, doctor is the ultimate person to see whether these symptoms are compactable with allergy or with Covid 19″—(KNO)

Anantnag: Suspected militants shot dead a man in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district this evening.

Yesterday suspected militants had shot dead two civilians in Kulgam area.

Sources told Kashmir News Trust that militants fired upon a person at Fathepora Larkipora area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district this evening.

He was shifted to Government Medical Collegehospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

Medical Superintenden GMC Anantnag, Dr Mehrab Majid confirmed the death of the man.

The slain man has been identified as Muhammad Saleem Dar son of Muhammad Abdullah.

Forces after the incident cordoned off the area and a search operation was underway till the filing of this report.(KNT

Srinagar, April 2: Former Sadre Riyasat and Congress leader Karan Singh Thursday donated Rs 11 lakhs to the Jammu Kashmir goverment Relief Fund to help it combat the rapidly-spreading Covid-19 pandemic.

Spokesperson of Karan Singh told KNT that the donation has been made and a letter in this regard has been sent to Government.

Karan Singh donated this amount on behalf of Dharmarth Trust.
“Being the trustee, I on behalf of Dharmarth Trust would like to make a modest donation of Rs 11 lakhs,” the letter dispatched to LG reads. (KNT)

Gulmarg: Panic gripped Tangmarg area of North Kashmir’s
Baramulla district on Thursday after the son of deceased Covid-19 patient was declared positive. The son of the deceased 65 year old Covid-19 patient being a teacher has reportedly came in contact with dozens of students at a private tuition centre, however authorities have appealed parents not to panic as according to them before the outbreak of this disease Coaching Centres were closed in the area.

Tangmarg man died recently at Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar, though he was neither having any travel history nor had come into contact with any infected person. Doctors said he was suffering from Coronavirus infection, however, he had been admitted at SMHS Hospital after developing some liver problem.

Shortly after reports surfaced that the son of the deceased patient has been declared positive, panic gripped in Tangmarg, as being a teacher, the infected person was teaching students at a private tuition centre.

Sources told Kashmir News Trust that that dozens of families have been asked to go for home quarantine and in case of symptoms, people have been directed to contact medical team.

Sub Divisional Magistrate, Gulmarg Shabir-ul-Hasan in his message has asked people not to panic. “It is very unfortunate to inform the general public that the Labortatory confirmed Covid-19 Positive (now deceased) man’s son has been detected Covid-19 positive.The said person being a teacher was running a tution centre too. So the parants of all children who ware taking tution from him, are requested not to panic but contact Nodal Officer Covid-19, Dr Tahir Lone (Mob No:-9419005305-9906669181) for further detailed precautions and necessary advices,” the message from SDM reads.

Over five dozen people have been tested positive for Covid-19 infection in KashmirValley while this disease has claimed two lives in Valley. (KNT)

Srinagar, April 2: The Doctors in Jammu and Kashmir complain that relatives of Covid19 confirmed or suspected patients are creating obstacles in patient management.
Doctors who wished not be named said that family members of these patients are demanding food and separate accommodation in hospitals for themselves also.
“How are we supposed to manage their food and accommodation? This is not a normal situation. We are fighting day and night with different treatments for recovery of patients,” a group of doctors told KNS.
They added that irony is that attendants of these patients decry lack of facilities in hospitals.
“Every patient is being treated and monitored with best of possible facilities. We are risking our own lives for the patients,” they said.
The group of doctors suggested involving hospitality and protocoling department in arrangement of food for the Covid19 patients.
The doctors also said t procedures should be created for monitoring, managing and training visitors who they say are trying to enter the designated Covid19 patients wards.
“For known or suspected patients with COVID-19, physicians and other health professionals should restrict visitors from entering the room. Alternative options for interactions between patient and visitor include video-call applications on mobile devices or tablet computers,” they said.
JLNM which is one of designated Covid-19 hospitals was in news recently after a group of people admitted for quarantine went on rampage damaging doors and windows before fleeing from the hospital.
According to reports Trouble had started when 26 people, mostly family members and relatives of the elderly Covid-19 couple from Chattabal, alleged inadequate facilities and lack of staff at the hospital. It was only after police intervention that all of the 26 were brought back to the hospital for quarantine. (KNS)

SRINAGAR, April 2: With hospitals facing tough times to deal with COVID-19, authorities on Thursday claimed they have provided accommodation to nurses and paramedics who have asked for.
Principal Government Medical College Srinagar Dr Samia Rashid claimed they have provided accommodation to nurses and paramedics who have asked for.
“We have arranged accommodation not only for doctors but also to those nurses who come forward. There are 30 rooms available at circuit house for staff of microbiology and nurses,” she told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) over phone.
Dr Samia said it was not possible to arrange buses for entire staff of GMC Srinagar associated hospitals.
“Six buses are plying on various routes. But we have to be little careful and keep social distancing,” she said.
Asked there were complaints that five nurses were sharing one room at CD Hospital, Dr Samia said she was not aware of.
Her reaction came a day after KINS reported how nurses in Kashmir are fighting valiantly against coronavirus in absence of protective gear.
“We are not given proper protective gear. We are risking our lives but we have to fight this battle together,” said a nurse at CD Hospital Srinagar.
The nurse said they were facing shortage of accommodations. “At least five nurses have to share one small room adjacent to ward. We have to share washroom with attendants. Nobody is concerned about us,” another nurse has said.
Parveena Khan, president of the nurses association has said government needs to protect nurses who work 24×7 in hospitals.
She said hospitals can run smoothly only when nurses are given protective gear. “We can fight COVID-19 only when we nurses are properly protected. But there is no accommodation for nurses. We too are part of same society. Health should be our priority but with facilities,” she added.(KINS)