Valley on brink of stage III pandemic: Positive cases surge after return of stranded people

Srinagar: Kashmir has witnessed a steady spike in positive cases for the last 17 days, mainly due to the return of people from outside states. 

According to official figures, Jammu and Kashmir has reported a total of 2036 cases till May 28. Of which, 1636 are from the valley.  896 among the positive cases are travelers. Of whom 583 are from Kashmir.

On May 8, the Jammu and Kashmir administration decided to arrange special trains for its residents stranded across the country due to the lockdown.

 It was on May 12, the first passenger train carrying 992 people arrived at the Udhampur railway station from Bengaluru. Of whom 916 of them hailed from different districts of the valley.  

Data from May 12 to 29 reveals the sudden spike in the cases. 

 Figures reveal that Kulgam has seen a major spike from 42 cases to 255. It is followed by Kupwara, where the patient load increased from 73 to 237; 123 to 289 in Anantnag, 103 to149 in Shopian, and 117 to 198 in Srinagar, 134 to 145 in Bandipora, 109 to 169 in Baramulla and 46 to 89 in Budgam.

  Dr. Naved Nazir Shah, HOD Chest Diseases Hospital, Srinagar said the number of positive cases has gone up.  “Most of them are travelers and their contacts can be traced. The majority of them are reported with mild symptoms,” he said.

 Dr. Naveed noted that the valley is on the brink of Stage 3 pandemic. “There are few indications of community transmission,” he said.  

Nodal Officer, Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr. Salim Khan said a lot of new cases can be traced to the people who came from outside.  “Around 80-90 percent of people are asymptomatic and recovery rate has also climbed up to 42 percent at present,” Dr. Salim said.