J&K infections tally nears 9k, govt reopens parks, gardens from today

50 SFs among 256 new cases; 5 new deaths take toll to 143

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: In a move which has taken many by surprise, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to open all the parks and gardens in the union territory to the public from Wednesday, as a plan to reopen tourism in the region.
The decision was announced on a day when Jammu and Kashmir reported 256 fresh Covid-19 cases taking its infections tally to 8931, while five more patients died, taking the toll to 143. 3389 of the cases are active positive while 81 patients including 22 from Jammu region and 59 from Valley were discharged from hospitals today, taking recoveries to 5399.
In view of the rising cases of Covid-19, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had last week taken a precautionary stand and continued almost all the restrictions prevailing restrictions as it issued fresh guidelines for the unlock-2 phase which came into effect from Saturday.
However, hours after government spokesman Rohit Kansal informed of Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu’s directions for reopening tourism sector ‘soon’ late last night, the government on Tuesday announced that all the parks and gardens in the union territory will be thrown open to the public from Wednesday.
The decision in this regard was taken in a review meeting chaired by Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan today.
Khan, however, stressed that all the people should strictly observe the protocols and medical advice related to the COVID-19 pandemic
"We have decided to re-open all the parks and gardens across Jammu and Kashmir from tomorrow. People are however, supposed to follow SoPs in spirit that include wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing," he said, adding carrying a hand sanitizer is also part of the SoP.
“Every person who visits the gardens or parks must carry a sanitizer with him or her. We will also be having sanitizers at all the entry and exit points of each park and garden,” he said.
Khan also directed the authorities to penalize those found violating the precautionary measures. Officials informed that there will be thermal screening of people at the entry gates of gardens and parks.
All the parks and gardens were closed for general public in March this year in wake of COVID-19 outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir.
Interestingly, the decision was announced while Khan’s colleague, Advisor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar exhorted upon the concerned authorities for aggressive testing of co-morbid persons and red zone areas in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus in Jammu and Kashmir, while chairing a review meeting of health department this afternoon.
The death toll due to Covid-19 continued its upward climb in Jammu and Kashmir as five more patients died on Tuesday, taking the toll across the union territory to 143, even as 256 more persons including at least 50 personnel of security forces-- 21 from Jammu region, eight employees of BRO’s Beacon project, and five pregnant women tested positive for Coronavirus across the UT, taking the total number of the cases in J&K to 8931.
Among the fresh cases, 74 were recorded in Jammu region and 182 in Valley while 81 people—22 in Jammu and 59 in Valley— were discharged from hospitals today, taking recoveries to 5399. Out of the total infections in J&K, 3389 are active positive.
Kashmir Valley reported five more deaths due to covid-19, taking the death toll due to the virus in Jammu and Kashmir to 143.
They include a 60-year-old woman from Kunzar, Baramulla, a 78-year-old lady from Khrew, Pulwama and 65-year-old woman from Noor Bagh, Srinagar, a 62-year-old male from Batpora, Anantnag and a 75-year- old male from Rafiabad Baramulla.
Dr. Saleem Tak, Medical Superintendent at CD hospital said that a woman from Kunzar who was admitted on July 03 and was kept on ventilator died at hospital today morning.
He said that the patient was suffering from multiple ailments including COPD and pneumonia.
A senior doctor at SMHS said that the 78-year-old woman from Khrew Pulwama who was admitted at SMHS and tested positive for Covid-19 died today. He said that the woman was tested positive a few hours after her death. Tehsildar Pampore Ishtiyaq Mohiuudin also confirmed that an elderly woman from Khrew area of Pampore died at SMHS and that she was tested positive for Covid-19.
Dr. Nazir Choudary, Medical Superintendent, SMHS, said that a 65-year-old woman from Noor Bagh, Srinagar who was admitted in triage ward of SMHS was suffering from multiple ailments.
He said that the woman tested positive after her death.
Earlier, a 75-year- old male from Rafiabad Baramulla who was admitted on July 4 and tested positive for COVID-19, died at SMHS late Monday night. The patient was suffering from multiple problems include hypertension, pneumonia.
Dr Farooq Jan, Medical super indent at SKIMS, Soura while confirming the fifth Covid death of the day, said that a 65-year-old man from Batpora, Anantnag district died this evening.
“He was admitted on July 6 to the hospital and was having hypertension, and other underlying medical conditions. He was tested positive for virus today,” Dr Jan said.
With these deaths, 143 people have succumbed to the virus in J&K— 129 from the Valley and 14 from Jammu division.
J&K also reported 246 new infections on Monday, including 34 CRPF jawans, 3 SSB men, 5 BSF men, 2 personnel each of Army and IRP while 4 personnel of ITBP also tested positive. Eight employees of BRO’s Beacon project, and five pregnant women were also among fresh cases, taking the total number of the cases in J&K to 8931.
Of 74 cases in Jammu region, 20 cases were reported from Rajouri, 12 from Jammu, two from Udhampur, 6 from Kuthua, 2 from Ramban, 02 from Samba, 7 from Poonch, 13 from Doda and 10 from Kishtiwar.
13 of the new cases in Rajouri were personnel of security forces. They included 5 BSF personnel, 4 ITBP personnel and 2 IRP personnel posted in Rajouri, 2 Army personnel on leave.
“Three of the seven civilians who tested positive were from Sunderbani amongst random and target testing and one was from Red zone Peeri,” an official informed.
8 of 10 positive cases in Kishtwar were personnel of CRPF.
As many as 22 patients including 5 each from Jammu and Kathua, 3 each from Reasi and Samba, 2 each from Rajouri and Kishtwar, and one each from Doda and Poonch were discharged from hospitals after their recovery.
As per a media bulletin, the 182 fresh Valley cases included 61 from Srinagar, 16 from Kulgam, 30 from Baramulla, 01 from Shopian, 08 from Anantnag, 18 from Kupwara, 16 from Pulwama, 10 from Budgam, 08 from Bandipora and 14 from Ganderbal
Dr G H Yatoo, Nodal officer for Covid-19 at SKIMS said that out of 2574 samples tested at SKIMS on Tuesday, 101 samples were tested positive.
He said 101 new cases include 15 from Kulgam, 14 from Pulwama, 11 from Budgam, 11 from Srinagar, 08 from Bandipora, 06 from Anantnag, 05 from Baramulla, 02 from Ganderbal , one from Shopian and rest from CRPF battalions.
Dr Farooq Jan Medical Superintendent at SKIMS told that 101 patients include 26 from different CRPF battalions, 3 SSB men and 8 from beacon 109 RCC Kupwara.
Dr Reyaz Untoo, Principal at JVC Bemina said that out of 695 samples tested at SKIMS Bemina (JVC) 06 from Srinagar were tested positive.
He added that 14 more patients were discharged from hospital after their complete recovery, taking tally of discharged patients to 573 while as 98 are undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Officials from CD hospital said that new positive cases include 5 pregnant ladies, few police men and 20 from BB cantonment Srinagar.
Meanwhile, 59 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals in Kashmir.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 8931 positive cases, 3389 are Active Positive, 5399 have recovered and 143 have died; 14 in Jammu division and 129 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 413358 test results available, 404427 samples have been tested as negative till July 7, 2020.
Additionally, till date 302227 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance which included 40332 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 45 in Hospital Quarantine, 3,389 in hospital isolation and 45419 under home surveillance. Besides, 212899 persons have completed their surveillance period.