Ishfaq-ul-Hassan
Srinagar: Two UK returnees have been tested positive for COVID-19 in Kashmir.
The patients, who are said to be asymptomatic, have been admitted to Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital, Rainawari.
“Two positive patients have been admitted to JLNM. They were brought just now. We have been asked to isolate them in the hospital,” Dr. Bilquis Shah, Nodal Officer, COVID, JLNM, told The Kashmir Monitor.
Dr. Shah said they are trying to create an isolation facility for such patients. “We have patients already admitted. We are trying to create a separate facility to keep them under isolation,” she said.
Dr. Tasaduq Naik, COVID 19 response coordinator for the Health Department, said their samples are being sent to Delhi to confirm the strain. “Samples are being to Delhi for genome,” he said.
Last month, a United Kingdom (UK) returnee had tested positive for COVID 19 in Jammu. His samples to Delhi to check the COVID strain.
A new mutation called VUI 2020 12/01 is circulating in the UK and its transmission have been faster than expected in the last few weeks. Given the severity of infection, the UK government has extended the lockdown. India has also suspended flights to and from the UK to prevent the spread of infection in the country.
Last month, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, PK Pole had told The Kashmir Monitor that the people arriving from foreign countries are being tested for COVID 19 at Srinagar airport.
“All foreign returnees are being tested at the airport. There is a possibility that some foreign returnees may have traveled to the UK some time ago. Or some travelers may have traveled with UK returnees. We can’t take any chance. Therefore, all are being tested at the airport. Both RAT and RTPCR tests are conducted. When they test negative for both, they are allowed to go home,” Pole had said.
Official data accessed by The Kashmir Monitor reveal that the recovery rate of the Covid-19 patients in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 95.8 percent on December 29.
Official data accessed by The Kashmir Monitor reveal that the recovery rate of the Covid-19 patients in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 95.8 percent on December 29.
Jammu and Kashmir has 122303. positive cases. Of whom 2241 are active positive and 118155 have recovered. The death toll has reached 1907. Of whom 709 have died in the Jammu division and 1198 in the Kashmir division.
Till January 8, 937286 persons have been enlisted for observation. They include 24797 persons in-home quarantine, 2241 in isolation, and 28973 in-home surveillance. Besides, 879368 persons have completed their surveillance period.
To date, 4034984 test results are available. Of which 3912681 samples have tested negative.
