5 die of COVID in J&K, 133 test +ve; 16 new cases in Leh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU/SRINAGAR/ LEH, Dec 16: Four persons died of COVID-19 and 102 tested positive in Kashmir division today while one Corona fatality and 31 new cases were reported in Jammu region and 16 in Leh district in Ladakh.
Four persons who were suffering from the COVID-19 infection today succumbed in Kashmir taking the Jammu and Kashmir death toll to 4,508.
Those who tested positive include 48 from Srinagar, 24 from Baramulla, 9 from Budgam, 3 from Pulwama, 3 from Kupwara, 2 from Anantnag, 3 from Bandipora, 6 from Ganderbal and 4 from Kulgam.
The number of cases in Kashmir division has reached 213,668 including 210,275 recoveries and 2,316 deaths.
The number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 1,435 including 1,077 from Kashmir division.
With 139 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 333,461 which is 98.25 percent of the total cases.
Authorities today ordered closure of Block Office Paranpillan in Uri area of Baramulla district after an employee tested positive for corona.
“One (employee) posted in Block Paranpillan tested Positive for COVID -19 (with symptoms). The Official was present in the BDO Office on December 14,” read an order by BDO Paranpillan.
“Therefore, to contain the spread of the virus, it is hereby ordered that the premises of BDO office, Paranpillan shall be closed for one Day (16-12-2021) in compliance to Government guidelines issued in this regard from time to time”, it read.
The BDO has asked all officers and officials of BDO office who have come into contact with the official this week isolate and quarantine themselves and get tested.
However, all officers and officials have been asked to work from home for the “said time period so that office work could be carried out smoothly.”
Meanwhile, a 70-year-old fully vaccinated man hailing from Dessa Bhagwah in Doda district died of COVID-19 in the Government Medical College (GMC) Doda.
This has taken Corona toll in Jammu region to 2192 and Jammu district to 1154.
Among 31 cases recorded in Jammu region, 19 were reported from Jammu district, five in Poonch, three Udhampur, two Doda and one each in Kathua and Kishtwar districts.
Nineteen persons recovered from the virus.
Jammu region now has 1,25,736 Coronavirus cases. Among them, 1,23,186 have recovered from the virus while there have been 2192 casualties and 358 active positive cases.
All 16 COVID positive cases in the Union Territory of Ladakh were reported from Leh district.
Ladakh now has 163 active positive cases including 149 in Leh and 14 in Kargil district.
Corona count in Ladakh has gone up to 21865. Of them, 21486 have been treated and there were 216 casualties—158 in Leh and 58 in Kargil.