Kashmir reports 1st COVID-19 case, 2 more test +ve in Leh

Shikaras being sanitized by SMC workers at Dal lake in Srinagar on Wednesday. —Excelsior/Shakeel
Shikaras being sanitized by SMC workers at Dal lake in Srinagar on Wednesday. —Excelsior/Shakeel

Interstate bus services suspended
All travelers from Ladakh to be quarantined in J&K

Govind Sharma

JAMMU, Mar 18: First positive case of COVID-19 was reported in Kashmir, taking the total cases in J&K UT to 4 while as number of positive cases rose to 8 in the Union Territory of Ladakh, where 2 fresh cases surfaced today.
In view of rising cases in the UT, Ladakh administration today banned entry of foreign tourists within the territorial jurisdiction of Leh district while as J&K administration suspended all interstate bus services to J&K and decided to quarantine all the travelers coming from Union Territory of Ladakh. Click here to watch video
“No inter-state bus service shall ply on interstate routes with immediate effect till further orders,” Transport Commissioner, J&K, Pardeep Kumar said today in an order. The order further stated that buses belonging to Union Territory of J&K which are presently outside the UT shall not carry any passenger from outside the UT, while returning back.
Addressing media persons this evening, J&K Government spokesman Rohit Kansal said that three persons (all from Jammu) so far have tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus in J&K. Financial Commissioner Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo and Director Information & PR, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar were also present at the press conference. .
Giving a detailed break up about the Coronavirus suspected cases in UT of J&K till date, Kansal informed that 2802 persons have been enlisted for observation among which 2128 have been kept in home quarantine, 28 in hospital quarantine while as 346 are under home surveillance.
Kansal added that 300 persons have completed their 28 day surveillance period. 145 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far out of which 118 have been reported negative, three are positive while as report of 24 is still awaited.
However, late in the evening, he tweeted: “First positive case in Kashmir-Khanyar, Srinagar. History of foreign travel. Arrived on 16/3/2020. Put in Isolation. Surveillance started in 300m area. Request all to cooperate. Also Immediately self report any symptoms”.
“I have been informed a short while ago that #Srinagar has had its first positive case for #Covid2019. It’s a congested area in the city interiors. We have to be transparent to convey the gravity of the challenge and also seek serious measures and responsible behavior,” SMC Mayor Junaid Mattu also said in a series of tweets.
He said it was portent that all residents of Srinagar stay at their homes from Thursday morning and do not venture out unnecessarily.
Spelling out measures being taken up to control and prevent spread of this Virus, Kansal informed that the inter-state buses coming to and going from J&K have been suspended till March 31 and it has been decided to operationalise 100% checking of passengers at Banihal Railway Station.
Appealing foreign visitors not to visit J&K, Kansal said that all the foreign tourists or visitors arriving in J&K will be quarantined besides 100% quarantine will also be enforced on all the travellers coming from Union Territory of Ladakh.
Confirming two positive cases of COVID-19 in the Union Territory, Ladakh Commissioner Secretary (Health) Rigzin Samphel today said that a total of 34 sample results were received on Tuesday, of which two turned out to be positive, taking the total number to eight there. The results of 70 samples are still pending and are expected to arrive in a day or two, he added.
Sampheal said both the positive cases were quarantined in Hospital facility in Leh and they were shifted to isolation ward at SNM Hospital Leh. “In view of the new Coronavirus cases in Leh district, some area of Chuchot Yokma has also been brought under containment area,” he added.
Briefing about the quarantine area of Chuchot Gongma, Samphel updated about the continuous close watch by the District Administration and extended his appreciation for the support of residents of the quarantined area. Regarding the condition of all six positive cases of UT Ladakh, he said their condition is stable and they are under constant monitoring of the Health Team.
Samphel also told reporters that District Magistrate Leh today banned entry of foreign tourists in the district to check spread of Novel Coronavirus. “As a precautionary measure to contain spread of # COVID19 DC Leh @justcsachin issued an order stating ‘restriction of entry of international tourists within the territorial jurisdiction of Leh district till 30th April, 2020,” DIPR Leh Ladakh also posted on its tweeter handle this evening.
In Srinagar, District Administration sent 81 passengers who arrived this morning at Srinagar airport in the Air India flight from Leh, for two-week quarantining after which they will be allowed to proceed to their respective destinations. The remaining 25 passengers preferred to return to Leh and flew back.
Meanwhile, the District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has ordered restricted entry of travellers from Leh and Kargil areas to Srinagar.
The order issued under powers vested in the DM under the Disaster Management Act 2005 stated that only those travellers can enter Srinagar who have undergone quarantine for the specified two-week period immediately before the intending date of travel and certified and cleared by the competent medical authority in Ladakh.
“Travellers from the region who will not have undergone quarantine in their region will have to undergo quarantine in Srinagar before being allowed to proceed to their desired destinations,” Dr Choudhary said, adding, the order also applies to road travellers from the region. He further informed that the ferrying of passengers in Indian Airforce aircrafts has been suspended altogether till further notice.
The DC Srinagar said that four foreign tourists who arrived in Srinagar today are being sent back tomorrow. “These tourists were not aware of the ban on entry of foreign tourists in J&K, which was ordered late last night,” he said, adding, they were already present in the country and there was nothing to worry about as they have undergone all necessary tests and quarantine has been verified.
Amid Coronavirus scare, SMC workers have also started sanitizing Shikaras at famous Dal lake in Srinagar.
District administration Anantnag also sealed all alternate routes to Valley from Jammu to ensure that no one visiting Kashmir goes unscreened. “With reference to the subject, this is to inform that a screening centre has been established at Zig (Lower Munda) along national highway in view of COVID-19 outbreak, which is operational 24×7 for compulsory screening of the people entering into the Valley,” an order of District administration read.
Meanwhile, Udhampur District Magistrate Piyush Singla suspended public transport including buses and mini buses across the district from today, making it the second district in the UT to take such a drastic precautionary measure against the spread of infection.
The management of the Chandi Mata temple at Chinote in Bhaderwah area of Doda district also announced the closure of the temple for devotees in view of the emerging situation due to coronavirus.
“The people in general and the devotees in particular are appealed to cooperate with the management which has also decided not to organise any function in the premises of the temple during the forthcoming ‘navratras’ starting from March 25,” a spokesman for the temple said.
Rajouri-based Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University’s Registrar Dr Ashfaq A Zarri ordered closure of varsity hostels for both boys and girls with immediate effect till further orders.
To mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 in district Kishtwar, District Magistrate, Rajinder Singh Tara today ordered to restrict all public transport including buses, mini-buses, tempos, cabs, etc plying from Kishtwar-Padder Road, Kishtwar-Sinthan Road and Jammu-Kishtwar Road at Police Nakka Zelna, Old JP Workshop near petrol pump (Sangrambhata) and Upper Malipeth, respectively.
He further ordered that all the public transport plying within Kishtwar town, Kishtwar-Zelna (DC Offiice), Kishtwar-Girinagar, Kishtwar-Poochal and adjoining areas shall be restricted till further orders.
In Rajouri district also, the public transport was suspended today till March 31. “Movement of the public transport shall remain suspended in the entire district till 31-03-2020. ARTO Rajouri and Deputy SP Traffic Rajouri shall ensure proper implementation of the orders,” said an order issued by District Magistrate Rajouri Mohd Nazir Sheikh.
“Further, the passenger vehicles plying from Jammu to Poonch and vice-versa shall not halt at any point in the jurisdiction of district Rajouri,” the order read.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Rajouri in an order issued today said that as per the directions of District Magistrate Rajouri, all the educational institutions (Government and private) shall remain closed till further orders. However, the teaching/non-teaching staff who are engaged in Board examinations/practicals (10, 11 and 12th)/evaluation process (internal evaluation/result compilation of 1st to 9th) shall perform their duties as per schedule while rest of the staff is exempted from duties till further orders with the condition that none of them shall either visit CEO/ZEO offices or leave the station during these days.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here