2 women die of COVID, 27 test +ve in Jammu; 141 in Kashmir

24 new cases in Ladakh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR/ LEH, Nov 17: Two women died of COVID-19 and 27 tested positive for the virus in Jammu division today while 141 fresh cases were reported in Kashmir region and 24 in the UT of Ladakh.
A 65-year-old woman hailing from Dachchan in Kishtwar district and presently putting up at Anand Nagar Talab Tillo died of COVID-19 and co-morbidities in the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu today.
A 50-year-old woman from Thandi Kassi in Manjakote area of Rajouri district succumbed to the virus in the GMC Rajouri. She had no other ailments.
The two COVID fatalities have taken Corona toll in Jammu region to 2181 and Jammu and Rajouri districts to 1149 and 238 respectively.
Death toll in other districts include152 in Kathua, 137 Udhampur, 133 Doda, 120 Samba, 98 Poonch, 67 Ramban, 44 Kishtwar and 43 in Reasi district.
Among 27 new cases, 13 were reported from Jammu district, four Reasi, three Ramban, two each in Udhampur and Rajouri and one each in Doda, Kathua and Poonch districts.
Nine persons recovered from the virus,
Jammu region’s Corona count now stood at 1,24,675. Of them, 1,22,250 have recovered from the virus while there have been 2181 casualties and 244 active positive cases.
The Union Territory of Ladakh today reported 24 COVID positive cases—23 in Leh district and one in Kargil.
Fresh positive cases have taken number of active positive cases in Ladakh to 197 including 192 in Leh and five in Kargil district.
Ladakh’s Corona count stood at 21229. Out of them, 20821 have been treated while there have been 211 casualties—153 in Leh and 58 in Kargil.
Meanwhile, the Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said hospitals in Kashmir are once again witnessing a rise in the number of severe COVID-19 cases.
In a statement issued here, DAK president Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that hospitals are again seeing a surge in severe cases of COVID-19 infection.
“The number of COVID admissions have increased five times over the last few days; at SMHS hospital, a week ago we had 2-3 patients admitted in COVID wards. It has shot up to 15 now,” he said.
Dr Nisar added that a few weeks ago, there were days when we would not have a single patient taking admission.
“But now we have 7-8 patients getting admitted every day. Most of them come with bilateral pneumonia requiring oxygen, some needing intensive care and the support of ventilators to help them survive the respiratory distress,” he said.
The DAK president said not only the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, but young people are coming with severe disease and some of them are dying. “Most of these admitted patients are either unvaccinated or have received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine,” he added.
General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said the rising number of cases over the past one week has now started to reflect in the rising number of hospitalizations.
Spokesperson DAK Dr Riyaz Ahmad Dagga said “we have a significant portion of the population who are susceptible to the virus as they are either unvaccinated or have received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kashmir today reported 141 fresh cases of COVID-19.
Those who tested positive include 71 from Srinagar, 29 from Baramulla, 12 from Budgam, 4 from Pulwama, 7 from Kupwara, 7 from Bandipora, 10 from Ganderbal and 1 from Kulgam.
The number of cases in Kashmir division has reached 209,925 including 206,380 recoveries and 2,276 deaths.
The number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 1,513 including 1,269 from Kashmir division.
With 197 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 328,638 which is 98.21 percent of the total cases.
In view of the surge in COVID-19 positive cases in Baramulla town, District Magistrate Baramulla, Bhupinder Kumar has declared Ahmad Complex as micro containment zone today.
The order in this regard has been issued because of the surge in Covid-19 positive cases in the vicinity.
“There will be complete restrictions in the containment zones. The restrictions include complete lockdown and tight perimeter control except for essential needs. Besides, movement of the people in and out in the containment zones had been completely barred”, the order said.
The authorities have also made testing and vaccination mandatory for the residents of the containment zones.