Srinagar- Coronavirus cases continue to show a rapid surge in Jammu and Kashmir, as nearly 2000 people on Thursday tested positive for the virus while five more people succumbed to the deadly infection in the Union Territory during the last 24 hours.
According to officials, Kashmir Valley reported on Thursday 1077 fresh cases of novel Coronavirus while 889 were registered in the Jammu Division, taking the total number of people infected since the outbreak of pandemic in J&K to 350167.
In the Valley, officials said, Srinagar reported the highest 416 new cases of virus, Baramulla 311, Budgam 159, Bandipora 53, Kulgam 52, Anantnag 39, Kupwara 26, Pulwama 12, Ganderbal 7 and Shopian 2.
In the winter capital, officials said, Jammu reported a maximum of 434 new cases of Coronavirus, Udhampur 136, Reasi 107, Rajouri 55, Kathua 49, Samba 36, Poonch 26, Doda 21, Kishtwar 19 and Ramban 6.
“Moreover, 271 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals including 153from Jammu Division and118 from Kashmir Division,” officials said.
Also, they said that five more people, three from Kashmir Valley and two from the Jammu division died of Covid-19 related complications, taking the death toll in pandemic to 4552 in J&K—2213 in Jammu and 2338 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.
Airport Restricts Entry Time
Passengers will be allowed entry to Srinagar Airport only three hours before their flight departure as part of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 infection, officials said on Thursday.
The regulation of the entry of passengers comes in view of some of the passengers entering the airport seven to eight hours before the flight departure time which leads to an increase in the crowd at the aerodrome.
Passengers are requested to please come to the airport only up to three hours before flight departure time, Director, Airport Authority of India (AAI), Srinagar airport, Kuldeep Singh said here.
He said the entry to the airport shall be given only up to three hours before flight from Thursday.
The time of entry to the airport is maximum three hours before flight departure. This is necessary to control the congestion at the airport because we want to reduce the chance of infection, he said.
Singh asked the passengers to cooperate with the security staff in maintaining the access control at the airport.
The director said some passengers were entering the airport seven to eight hours before the time of their flight which increases the crowd at the airport and also increases the risk of infection.
Covid disease is spreading very fast. The infection is more in crowded areas. All our passengers are requested to please maintain social distance at the airport and also wear mask at all times. We follow the rule of ‘No Mask No Entry’. There is a fine of Rs 500 if any passengers remove their mask, he said.
Rapid Test Mandatory To Visit Hospitals
The authorities on Thursday directed the hospital administrations in the valley not to allow patients and attendants enter the medical facilities without taking a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 in view of the surge in the number of cases.
In a circular, Director Health Services Kashmir, M A Rather, asked all chief medical officers, medical superintendents, block medical officers in the valley to get COVID-19 SOPs/guidelines properly implemented in all healthcare institutions falling under their administrative control.
The move comes in view of the recent surge in COVID-19 infections in the country and the detection of cases of the new Omicron variant in many states and Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir.
“Besides, they will ensure that no patient/attendant is allowed to enter the hospital premises unless & until rapid antigen test (RAT) is undertaken and masks are put on the face by them properly, the circular said.
However, in case of dire emergencies, the need-based protocols should be followed, the Director Health Services Kashmir said.
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