SRINAGAR – As the threat of deadly coronavirus looms large over the Valley, the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura on Tuesday admitted another suspected case of the infection for quarantine.
Dr Ghulam Hassan Yattoo who has been appointed COVID- 19 Nodal Officer at SKIMS, told Kashmir Observer that a male patient with a travel history from Iran has been admitted at the isolation ward of the institute for quarantine.
“We took his samples today and are awaiting the reports,” Yatoo said.
Yatoo further informed that at least 6 suspected cases are undergoing quarantine at the Valley’s territary hospital. He said all of the six suspects have tested negative to the infection.
“We have also started testing facility at the institute. Now, we don’t send samples outside the Valley anymore,” he added.
It may be noted that in view of the increasing number of people requiring tests for coronavirus, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has designated SKIMS Srinagar and Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu as testing centres, part of its network of laboratories across India.
“The coronavirus testing lab has been made operational yesterday. Today, we tested the first sample at the laboratory,” an official said.
Director National Health Mission (NHM), Bhupinder Kumar in a newsconference at Jammu urged people not to panic and pay heed to any rumor regarding COVID-19.
Giving a detailed break up about the Corona virus suspected cases in UT of J&K till date, Director informed that 705 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under active surveillance; 150 of these have completed surveillance period of 28 days and 09 are under hospital quarantine.
“56 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far; 26 have reported negative, of earlier two cases who were reported with high viral load 01 has tested positive and another one is being retested, 29 reports awaited,” he said.
“Meanwhile one more person has reported with high viral load and samples have been sent to NCDC New Delhi for confirmation, he added.
Kumar said that the administration has strengthened the Surveillance and Control measures against the disease. Helpline nos: +91-0191-2549676 (UT level Cell for J&K), +91-0191-2520982 (For Jammu Division), +91-0194-2440283 (For Kashmir Division) are functional.
He said coronavirus lab testing facilities have been started in Kashmir and Jammu as well.
“Screening of travellers has been started at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda toll posts as well as Jammu, Katra and Udhampur Railway stations, where Health Help Desks have also been setup” Kumar added.
The government also urged citizens especially those with travel history to affected countries such as China, Italy, Iran, South Korea etc to self declare immediately and to report to the nearest government health facility if any symptoms are found.
So far no positive cases have been reported from any part of valley; however a 63-year-old woman tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu on Monday, making her the first confirmed case in Jammu and Kashmir.
115 countries have been affected by coronovirus and there are 114,635 confirmed cases, 4,031 deaths with majority of them in China, Italy, South Korea and Iran.
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