SRINAGAR – A woman tested positive to coronovirus on Friday, while five people were admitted to the government hospitals , as the number of suspected cases under survillence for the deadly infection swelled in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and reached 1743.
A woman who had a travel history from Iran, tested positive to coronavirus today in Jammu, news agency GNS reported. The sexagenarian woman has been kept in isolation ward for quarantine at GMC Jammu.
Here in this capital city, four suspected people were admitted to the premier SKIMS and their samples were sent for examination. The sample of another woman, admitted at in isolation ward in GMC Anantnag hospital has also been sent for examination, Dr Showkat Geelani told GNS.
The elderly woman had last week returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah.
Meanwhile, a government spokesperson in a media bulletin issued today said 1743 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance while as 1485 persons are under home quarantine.
He said that 159 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period and, so far, only two cases have been tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir.
Persons who are in hospital quarantine stand at 18 and 81 persons are under home surveillance.
Further, the Bulletin said that 85 samples have been sent for testing, of which 77 tested as negative and only two cases have tested positive, so far while as reports of six cases are awaited till March 13, 2020.
As per the latest travel advisory issued by the Central Government, all travellers having travel history to coronavirus affected countries are advised to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival.
A home quarantined person has been advised to stay in a well-ventilated single-room preferably with an attached/separate toilet. Besides stay away from elderly people, pregnant women, children and persons with co-morbidities within the household, the advisory said.
Home quarantined persons should also restrict his/her movement within the house and under no circumstances attend any social/religious gatherings like weddings and condolences.
“Follow public health measures as per guidelines issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI as this is for the benefit of his/her relatives, friends and population in general,” the advisory reads.
The Government has once again urged all social, religious and political organizations to avoid large gatherings. The general public is strongly advised to avoid going to gymnasiums and swimming pools.
“There is no need to panic, the public is advised to maintain social distancing; avoid un-necessary travel and use of public transport; and also take basic precautions including personal hygiene, frequent handwashing with soap and observing coughing and sneezing etiquettes,” the government advisory said.
Anyone with fever, cough and difficulty in breathing has been urged to seek medical care at the earliest.
SKIMS Cancels Leaves of Employees
As WHO has declared Coronavirus as pandemic, Kashmir’s premier tertiary care hospital Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on Friday cancelled leaves of its employees to “ensure uninterrupted medical services to public.”
“In view of the spread of COVID-19, which has been declared as a worldwide pandemic, all the leaves (except leaves on extra-ordinary grounds) of employees of SKIMS and SKIMS Medical College are hereby cancelled with immediate effect,” reads an order issued by Prof. A G Ahangar, Director SKIMS .
Govt Orders Closure Of Malls, Gyms In Jammu
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday ordered closure of all malls, gyms, swimming pools, recreational clubs in the district till March 31 as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, an official said.
As it is not possible to serve this order individually, it shall be circulated in print, electronic and social media for information of all concerned, District Magistrate (DM) Jammu, Sushma Chauhan said.
“It is hereby ordered that all shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools, recreational clubs of Jammu district shall remain closed with immediate effect,” she said in the order.
Any violation of this order shall invite action under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by order of the district magistrate, Jammu, she said.
The virus has a pattern of transmission at a rapid rate incase prescribed preventive protocols like avoiding mass gatherings are not strictly followed, the DM said.
She said it is felt that large gatherings in malls, gyms, swimming pools, recreational clubs may cause the spread of COVID-19 from infected to non-infected; “Whereas, section 144 of the CrPC empowers the undersigned to issue certain directions and orders in urgent case of nuisances of apprehended danger when it is considered that such direction is likely to prevent danger to human life, health or safety.”
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