By Majid Nabi
Srinagar- The Jammu and Kashmir administration is fully prepared to meet any eventuality amidst a slight spike in daily coronavirus cases in the Union Territory, a senior official said Saturday.
Secretary Health and Medical Education (H&ME), Bhupinder Kumar said the majority of patients undergoing genome sequencing are tested with the highly contagious XBB1.16 sub-variant of the Omicron virus.
He said the Covid-19 cases have steadily increased in Jammu and Kashmir for the last one month and that the administration is fully prepared to tackle any eventuality that might arise in the future.
Secretary H&ME urged people to adopt Covid-19 appropriate behavior meticulously to avoid contracting the virus.
He said genome sequencing labs have been set up in Jammu and SKIMS Soura in Srinagar for enabling the high-speed analysis of multiple genes simultaneously.
“A sudden rise has been witnessed in the country for the last one month; while there is an upward trend in Jammu and Kashmir as well. Majority of patients undergoing genome sequencing are tested with a highly contagious XBB 1.16 sub-variant of the Omicron virus,” Kumar told the media on the sidelines of a function here.
He was, however, quick to add that though the number of cases have increased, people need not to panic as the hospitalization rate is low at the moment. Kumar said only 12 patients in Jammu and Srinagar hospitals have been admitted so far.
The senior official further said all the medical officers have been asked to increase Covid-19 testing rate amid a spike in the number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir.
“12 patients have been hospitalized in Jammu and Srinagar hospitals so far while the UT administration as per Centre’s guidelines have increased testing rate amid a spike. No doubt cases are increasing but the hospitalization rate is low as of now,” he added.
He said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed different variants over the past two and half years and that following Standard Operating Procedure was the only weapon to defeat the virus.
“We have a well trained and well equipped staff having capability to handle Covid-19. A mock drill is being conducted across India including J&K in the coming few days to review available infrastructure, including oxygen plants and other machinery in the hospitals in view of the surge in positive cases,” Kumar said.
He appealed to the masses to go for immediate testing and get themselves isolated in case they develop any symptoms.
“We are in close contact with our teams, while our CMOs, Directors, Principals are constantly monitoring the situation on the ground. Covid-19 appropriate behavior is necessary, if symptoms develop consult a doctor immediately for quick treatment as early detection of cases makes it easy for the management to deal with the situation while late detection leads to emergency like situations,” he added.
J&K Logs 77 New Corona Cases
Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir reported 77 fresh covid-19 cases, even as there was no death due to the virus during the last 24 hours, officials said on Saturday.
They said that 26 cases were reported from Jammu division and 51 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall tally to 480109. Among the cases, 174248 are from Jammu division and 305861 from Kashmir Valley.
Providing district wise details of the cases, they said, 10 cases were reported from Budgam, nine each from Srinagar, Jammu and Baramulla, eight from Pulwama, seven from Bandipora, five each from Udhampur and Samba, three each from Poonch, Ramban, and Kulgam, two each from Kulgam and Anantnag and one each from Rajouri and Ganderbal.
There was no death, either from Jammu or Kashmir Valley during the time. So far 4786 people have succumbed to the virus and among them include 2353 from Jammu division and 2433 from the Valley.
Besides, they said, 37 Covid-19 patients recovered during the last 24 hours—five from Jammu division and 32 from Kashmir Valley. There are now 349 active cases— 119 in Jammu and 230 in Kashmir.
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