2 elderly women die, toll 20; 21 cops among 59 new cases in J&K

51 positive in Valley, 8 in Jammu; total infections 1449

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Two more women died of the Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, taking the number of deaths in the union territory to 20, nine of them coming in last six days, even as 59 more people including 21 cops, a doctor and two pregnant women tested positive for Coronavirus, taking the total number of infections in the union territory to 1449.
The death toll in J&K has doubled in 11 days, from 10 on May 11 to 20 on May 21.
Both the deceased hailed from Valley, where the death count has climbed to 18. Also, 51 of the fresh cases emerged from Kashmir Valley, and eight from Jammu region. Six patients—3 each from both regions also recovered from the disease, taking the total recoveries to 684.
Two elderly women hailing from Srinagar and Budgam districts died of the novel coronavirus on Thursday, taking the death toll in Kashmir to 18.
“Two deaths were reported at the Chest Disease Hospital in past 24 hours, including the one whose covid-19 test came out positive after death,” Nodal officer GMC Dr. Salim Khan told The News Now.
“In Thursday afternoon, a 70 year-old female from Parisabad, Budgam who had tested positive for Covid-19 on 18th May died in ICU of Chest Disease Hospital after sudden cardiac arrest,” he said.
Dr Khan added that the patient was initially admitted in SMHS hospital on 15th May and was shifted to Chest Disease Hospital as a case of COPD with restrictive lung disease and Covid pneumonia.
The second case was of an 80-year-old woman from Usmania Colony, Bemina Srinagar, who had died on the Wednesday evening.
The woman was admitted in SMHS Hospital Srinagar on 19 May with bilateral pneumonia and hypertension and was kept in Isolation Ward.
“The patient died on 20th May evening and her body was kept in GMC Srinagar mortuary. Her Covid-19 test report came positive today,” Dr Khan said.
In last 6 days, nine deaths have been reported in Kashmir Valley while the death toll in J&K has doubled in 11 days, from 10 on May 11 to 20 on May 21.
The Srinagar district has reported 6 of the deaths, highest in any district, followed by 4 each in Baramulla and Anantnag, 2 deaths in Budgam, while one death each has been reported in Bandipora, Kulgam, Udhampur, and Jammu districts.
Jammu and Kashmir continued to register surge in Covid-19 cases with 21 cops among 59 more persons testing positive for the Coronavirus on Thursday including 51 from Kashmir and 8 from Jammu. Two pregnant women and a doctor are also among those found infected today.
Among the fresh Valley cases, 21 are from Kulgam, 12 from Anantnag, 7 from Kupwara, 5 from Srinagar, 4 from Budgam and 2 from Ganderbal.
All the 21 cases from Kulgam are those of cops. Sources said the policemen who have tested positive are aged between 25 to 59 years and are residents of different parts of Valley.
“The officials were all part of a special pool of 60 personnel created as a reserve exclusively for Covid-19 duties at Quarantine and isolation centers, for handling Covid-19 patients and potential carriers and for acting as substitutes for police stations in case of covid breakout in a particular unit,” police said in a statement.
A senior police official said all the 21 were already in isolation from March 18 in a compound separated from DPL Kulgam by 3 kilometres and were not posted in District Police Lines.
“21 policemen who were tested positive were posted at Reserve camp in higher secondary school Chawalgam from last 3 months and not in DPL Kulgam. They were in a separate compound since the beginning of Lockdown and were put only on COVID- related duties,” he said.
The cops include a 41-year-old male from Budgam, 38 year old from Shanpora, a 59-year-old male from Bemina Srinagar, 24-year-old male from Gundhipora, a 25-year-old male from Shurat, 30-year-old male form Behigagh, a 42-year-old male from Chawalgam, 27-year-old male from Brinal, 25 year-old from Chagulpora, 25-year-old male Frisal Yanipora, 25-year-old male Mahnoor Budgam, a 52-year-old man from Char-e-Shareef Budgam, two male both aged 22 year-old from Devsar, 35-year-old male from Banihal, two male aged 28, 37-year-old male from Malwar, 29-year-old from Khudwani, 32-year-old male from Hajin Bandipora, a 37-year-old male from Chattabal, Kulgam and a 34-year-old male from Bragloo Kulgam.
Among the Anantnag cases, a 25-year-old pregnant woman from Satri Madaan, a 27-year-old pregnant woman from Khundroo, a 49-year-old male, a 4-year-old boy, 42-year-old female, 45-year-old man, 44-year-old female from Ukjan, 16-year-old male, 17-year-old male and a 43-year-old female from Lalipora, and a 25-year-old female from Frislan tested positive. The 12th patient from Anantnag was tested positive at a private lab.
The Kupwara cases include two men both aged 39 years, a 27-year-old woman, a 35-year-old male from Kaweri, a 52-year-old male from Reshigund, and a 41-year-old and 21-year-old male from Kupwara town.
The patients who tested positive at SKIMS, JVC Bemina include three male from Naru Nagam and one female from Loolipora in Budgam.
A medical intern (doctor) from Psychiatry section of SMHS, who was staying at GMC Srinagar Hostel campus Bemina was among 5 cases from Srinagar which also included a 26-year-old from Maisuma, and a 21-year-old from Bemina, Srinagar-- both having travel history to New Delhi. Two women—one aged 20 and other 50—from Chatabal Kulgam were tested positive in Srinagar.
Two samples were received from DH Ganderbal and include a 37-year-old from Ganderbal and 22-year-old youth from Safapora.
Three patients from Pulwama district were discharged today after their recovery from the covid-19 disease.
In Jammu region, three cases each were reported from Kathua and Ramban districts, besides one case each from Jammu and Kishtwar.
“All three cases reported today are returnees. While two of them were put under quarantine in Kathua, one is under administrative quarantine in adjoining Samba district,” Deputy Commissioner Kathua O P Bhagat informed.
Also, three positive cases from Billawar tehsil of the district have been cured and discharged from Gandhinagar Hospital Jammu, he added.
“A person who had returned from New Delhi tested positive for Coronavirus today,” Rajinder Singh Tara, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, said.
“Maintain social distancing in public places and markets. Stay home, stay safe,” Singh appealed.
Three persons from Ramban and one in Jammu district also tested positive on Thursday.
With these developments, the total number of infections in Jammu and Kashmir stands at 1449, including 745 active, 684 recovered and 20 dead.
The total positive cases in Kashmir and Jammu regions have rose to 1238 and 211 respectively, active cases to 605 and 140, respectively, and recoveries to 615 and 69 respectively.
Providing district-wise breakup, a media Bulletin said that Bandipora has 137 positive cases with 08 Active Positive, 128 recovered, 01 death; Srinagar has 174 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today) with 71 Active Positive, 97 recovered, 06 deaths; Anantnag district has 264 positive cases (including 12 cases reported today), with 171 Active Positive, 89 recovered, 04 deaths; Baramulla has 129 positive cases with 34 Active Positive, 91 recovered, 04 deaths; Shopian has 109 positive cases with 11 Active Positive, 98 recovered; Kupwara has 125 positive cases (including 07 cases reported today) with 77 Active Positive, 48 recovered; Budgam has 62 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today), with 30 Active Positive and 30 recovered cases and 02 death; Ganderbal has 27 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 12 Active cases and 15 recoveries; Kulgam has 192 positive cases (including 21 reported today), with 181 Active Positive and 10 recoveries and 01 death and Pulwama reported 19 positive cases with 10 active positive, 09 recovered (including 03 cases recoveries reported today).
Similarly, Jammu has 68 positive cases (including 01 cases reported today) with 36 active positive cases and 31 recoveries and 01 death; Udhampur has 33 positive cases with 11 active positive case, 21 recovered and 01 death; Samba has 16 positive cases with 10 Active Positive and 06 recoveries; Rajouri has 08 positive cases with 04 active positive cases and 04 recovered; Kathua has 40 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 36 Active positive and 04 recovered (including 03 cases recoveries reported today); Kishtwar has 07 positive cases (including 01 cases reported today) with 06 active positive case and 01 recovered; Ramban has 30 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 29 active positive and 01 recovered; Reasi has 04 positive cases with 03 active positive and 01 recovered, Poonch has 04 active positive cases while Doda has 01 active positive case.
The Bulletin further said that out of 107108 test results available, 105659 samples have been tested as negative till May 21, 2020.
Additionally, till date 125866 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance which included 33586 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 57 in Hospital Quarantine, 745 in hospital isolation and 21893 under home surveillance. Besides, 69565 persons have completed their surveillance period.