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Officials say decision on relaxation, continuation of curbs will depend on how situation behaves’

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to re-impose strict lockdown across Kashmir from today onwards till July 27 in the wake of spurt in Covid-19 related cases and deaths, top officials in the government disclosed to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

They said that from today onwards till July 27, strict lockdown will remain in place to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 pandemic. “Further decisions about continuation or announcing relaxation will be taken depending on how the situation would behave,” an official told KNO

Interestingly, since Unlock-2, Covid positive cases have shown a huge spurt as so far over 15000 cases have tested positive and 260 people have died due to the pandemic. Many doctors and civil society members had urged the government to re-impose the lockdown to prevent the mass spread of the virus.

Leading medicos have already stated that the deadly virus was already in the community and it was time to take precautions that include wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing—(KNO)

After developing alternate App of ‘Share-it’, Chadoora youth now comes up with App for Cam Scanner

Budgam, July 21: A youth from Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, who had developed a mobile application for sharing files as an alternative to Shareit, has now developed another mobile application as an alternative to Cam Scanner, which was recently banned across India by the Union Government.

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According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the 29.63MB application which is now available on Play store titled ‘Document scanner tool’ was developed by Tipu Sultan Wani as an alternative to Cam Scanner.

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Cam Scanner, Shareit and 58 other applications were banned by the government across India after India and China face-off at Galwan Valley in Ladakh Union Territory last month.

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“This application is working freely, the app has all features unlocked thus it doesn’t need any paid subscription. It can help you to scan documents. You can scan multiple documents to create PDF, eBooks as well as document folders. Sign every document with a fully customizable signing tool,” Tipu said.

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Tipu said that his brother Farooq Wani also helped him create this application and a lot of people were texting and calling him to keep creating new apps.

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He said that he will soon come up with an alternative app to TikTok, which has also been banned by the Union government across India—(KNO)

PTI

Jammu: Police seized 240 kilogram of poppy from two Punjab-bound trucks on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway here Tuesday night, officials said.

The drivers of these trucks were arrested following the seizure, they said.

A police team on routine checking intercepted two trucks coming from Kashmir at the Jhajjar Kotli area, the officials said.

During their checking, the team found two bags carrying poppy and concealed in special containers in the trucks, they said.

In this connection, two FIRs were registered at Police Station Jhajjar Kotli and further investigation is in progress, the officials said.

The drivers, identified as Pappu Massih and Virender Singh of Bilaspur in Uttar Pradesh, were arrested and trucks seized, they said.

Srinagar: Police on Tuesday arrested two attendants after they allegedly beat up a Nursing Officer at SMHS Hospital Srinagar.

The incident took place at a time when several doctors and paramedics were beaten up in last one week in various hospitals of Srinagar.

Asif Samad, Nursing Officer at SMHS Hospital Srinagar said he was in the ICU when he was beaten up by two attendants.

“There were two patients in the ICU. One was stable and another on ventilator. The attendants of patient who was stable told us that oxygen saturation of another patient is down and he should be shifted to another ventilator. We told them that the patient has pneumonia owing which his oxygen level is low. We told them shifting patient to another ventilator won’t make any difference. We told them they should not interfere into our work and we should not be held responsible then if anything happens to the patient,” he told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

On this, he said two attendants who were not with the patient, who was on ventilator started beating him.

“I received injuries on my chest and head,” he said, who is now under observation at the hospital.
Medical Superintendent Dr Nazir Chowdhary said one of the staffers of the hospital was beaten up by attendants.

“Police was informed about the incident. Two persons have been arrested and case registered by the police,” he told KINS.

The doctors also went on strike on Sunday after doctors at two GMC Srinagar hospitals were beaten up by attendants of patients.

The strike was called off Sunday evening “in the interest of patient care”.

A junior resident was beaten up by attendants of a patient admitted at SMHS Hospital’s COVID19 ward. A similar incident was reported from Super Specialty Hospital. Doctors and nurses have been demanding adequate security to be provided in hospitals so that such incidents are stopped.(KINS)

Situation inside hospital grim, junior doctors, paramedics scared

Srinagar: Staff members of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura who tested Covid-19 positive earlier, have been formally admitted and are undergoing treatment under Covid-19 protocol, official said.

He added at least 26 employees from SKIMS, Soura including staff nurses, doctors driver and some laboratory technicians have tested Covid-19 positive couple of days ago and are presently undergoing treatment at SKIMS.

“In wake of surge in Covid-19 positive cases in Valley, SKIMS is packed with patients with numerous symptoms related to the disease, besides investigations of thousands being done on daily basis. In such a situation it was expected that the virus can spread in the facility despite taking all precautions available”, he said.

He added that the infected staff members have been kept into isolation wards for getting Covid-19 protocol so that they will recuperate soon.
However sources told KNS that a top health expert in the hospital is also affected with Covid-19 symptoms but he denied to go through Covid-19 investigation.

“Situation is getting worst day by day. The medical staff deputed for treating Covid-19 patients is getting infected themselves which sounds alert among the fraternity and led other health experts and paramedics to remain away from the infected persons”, sources said.

They however maintained that no samples were collected from some staffers even when they started showing Covid-19 symptoms. These employees were asked to continue with their duties will they got affected completely.

A doctor wishing not to be named told KNS that several junior doctors and paramedics are feeling scary and are endeavoring to remain away from infected patients but at the same time they fear of suspension if they don’t report to their duties. “We are much scared; we are compelled to follow directions from the top in wake of spike in caseloads. We have no option left but to jump into the well of fire”, a doctor said. (KNS)

Officials say, ‘Will issue host of guidelines, any carelessness in observance of precautionary measures may lead to spike in coronavirus cases’

Srinagar: Though the lockdown was re-imposed in Srinagar and other major towns of valley to stop the spread of deadly coronavirus, the authorities are now confronting a new challenge regarding prevention and containment of the virus, this time—the big worry is over Eid Al Adha, which will be likely celebrated on July 31.

The authorities are worried that people may abandon masks and social distancing that could lead to the further spike in the covid cases.

There has been a sudden rise in the coronavirus cases for the last few weeks in Kashmir valley.
One of the top officials here in the Divisional administration told news agency Kashmir Indpeth News Service (KINS) that they will urge the people to continue observing (precautions) essential to stop the virus. “Eid ul Azha must be celebrated with simplicity,” said the official.

He said that in addition to reminding people to keep wearing masks and maintaining distance from one another, the government will issue new instructions on the Eid occasion, such as avoiding the custom of greeting friends and relatives with an “Eid embrace”. “Any carelessness in observance of precautionary measures during Eid-ul-Azha may lead to a spike in coronavirus cases,” warned the official heading the government’s effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

He said that greater public cooperation will lead us to a significant drop in the number of positive test results.

Sources said that the divisional administration will finalised the standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the handling of cattle markets, and smart lockdown measures in several places of the valley ahead of Eid Al Adha. “It is likely that the same plan that was followed during Eid Al Fitr in May for congregational prayers will be adopted for Eid Al Adha as well,” sources claimed.

Sources said that necessary guidelines will be forwarded to all the stakeholders including deputy commissioners, district health officers and the police.

The residents here in Srinagar said that with approaching Eid,people are getting careless now. “I have a sign on my shop that says, ‘no mask, no service,’ but people still enter without them, and sometimes it leads to arguments. If the people will lose interest in safety measures, especially during Eid, I fear the virus could become a big problem.”

Sources said that the restrictions in place at the coronavirus containment zones would continue and no laxity would be extended on Bakri Eid.(KINS)

Lieutenant Governor chairs 39th meeting of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu, Chairman of the Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), presided over 39th Board meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board today in which the Board members participated virtually through video conference to discuss the conduct of the Yatra 2020.

The meeting was attended by B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Bipul Pathak, CEO SASB; Anup Kumar Soni, Addl CEO SASB & senior officers of Shrine Board. Threadbare discussion was held on the current circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic and its likely impact on the Yatra.

The Board discussed the Hon’ble Supreme Court order dated 13.07.2020 in which, the decision to conduct the Yatra was left to the Administration/ Government after assessing the ground realities prevailing in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Board was informed that the arrangements were on track since February 2020, but due to nationwide lockdown and pandemic, State Executive Committee, J&K has still continued to keep religious places and places of worship closed for the public. These prohibitions continue till 31st July.

The Board further discussed that pandemic has put the health administration system to its limit. The spike has been particularly very sharp in July. Health Workers and Security Forces are also getting infected and the focus of entire Medical, Civil and Police Administration at the moment is on containing the local transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic. The health concerns are so serious that the strain on the health system, along with the diversion in resources to the Yatra, will be immense. This would also unnecessarily put the Yatris at risk of catching the COVID-19.

The Board also discussed the decision of High court of J&K in Writ Petition (No CM No. 3022/2020 in WP(C) PIL No 5/2020 in which the Court directed SASB to take a final view in light of order of Hon’ble Supreme court dated 13.07.2020 and keeping in view the compliance of all healthcare protocols, Standard Operating Protocols notified by the Central Government as well as by the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

The Board further deliberated the considered views of the Government. The Government made reasoned observations supported by facts which suggested that it   would not be advisable to conduct Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2020 and it would be advisable to cancel it this year in larger public interest. This would enable the Health, Civil and Police Administrations to focus on the immediate challenges facing them rather than diverting resources, manpower and attention to the conduct of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra.

Based upon the circumstances, the Board decided with heavy heart that it is not advisable to hold and conduct this year’s Shri Amarnathji Yatra and expressed its regret to announce the cancellation of Yatra 2020. The Board is aware of and respects the sentiments of millions of devotees and to keep the religious sentiments alive, the Board shall continue the Live Telecast/ Virtual Darshan of the morning and evening Aarti. Further, the traditional rituals shall be carried out as per past practice. Also, the Chhadi Mubarak shall be facilitated by the Government.

Srinagar: As many as 113 non-local labourers, who arrived in Kashmir in the last one week, have tested positive for COVID-19.

Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, K K Sidha told that they have collected 14,937 samples of non-local labourers as of July 21 noon among which 113 labourers have tested positive.

“All positive cases have been placed under quarantine by the respective districts,” Sidha said.As per officials, majority of these infected labourers were working on brick kilns in Budgam district right after they reached Kashmir.

Chief Medical Officer, Budgam, Dr Tajamul Hussain said that “71 labourers have tested positive in the district so far.”

“They have been sent to COVID care centres located in Arizal and Watrihal areas,” the CMO said.Non-local labourers testing positive is another challenge for Kashmir healthcare system which is already struggling by the recent surge in COVID-19 among the valley populace.

Majority of these labourers are from Bihar (27, 455 Covid-19 cases), Uttar Pradesh (nearly 50,000 cases), and Punjab (over 10,000 cases). Before entering Kashmir, officials claims that all of them are sampled at the Qazigund toll post in Anantnag district.The results of 12990 samples were still pending till Monday evening.

As per government figures, 1012 samples for coronavirus testing were collected from the arriving labourers on July 14, 2227 on July 15, 2099 on July 16, 2350 on July 17, 2893 on July 18, 2000 on July 19, and 1421 on July 20.

All these labourers are being brought back in hoards by the brick kiln owners in Kashmir who arrange their transport and stay in poorly facilitated shacks right near the brick kilns.

As per the guidelines issued by the Jammu and Kashmir government, all the passengers coming to J&K by train, air or road are supposed to remain under institutional quarantine for 14 days after being tested for coronavirus.

However, these labourers arriving in Kashmir do not undergo any institutional quarantine as they are transported directly to brick kilns where they begin their work right away.Heath experts in Kashmir warn that health infrastructure in Kashmir is already overburdened and overstretched.

“Symptomatic moderate to sick COVID pneumonia cases are increasing which is taking a toll on non-COVID patients because day by day wards are converted into COVID wards therefore days are not far when both COVID and non-COVID mortality will increase,” said a health expert wishing anonymity.

He said that the situation will turn worse and health structure may crumble if the movement of non-locals is not restricted. (Agency)