COVID-19:- Lockdown completes one month in Kashmir
SRINAGAR 17 APRIL (PTK) Restrictions on the movement of people in Jammu and Kashmir to contain the spread of coronavirus completed one month on Friday, even as the number of red zone areas in the only valley has risen to 80.
They said the security forces have sealed off main roads in most places in the valley and erected barriers at several other places to check the unwanted movement of the people and to enforce the lock down.
The declared containment or red zones across the valley have been sealed to ensure strict adherence to the standard operating procedure.
The officials said there were 80 red zones in the Kashmir valley and all such areas would remain as red zones up to 42 days, unless no new positive case of COVID-19 is detected.
If any new case is detected in those areas, then from that date, the area will again remain a red zone for another 42 days, they added.
They said those areas have been sealed off and strict restrictions would were being implemented there.
The officials said rapid anti-body testing would be initiated in red zones very soon and Jammu and Kashmir will be among the few states in the country to do that.
Meanwhile, the markets across the valley were shut and public transport was off the roads with only pharmacies and groceries allowed to open, the officials said.
Educational institutions across Kashmir are closed, while all public places including gymnasiums, parks, clubs and restaurants were shut down more than a week before the nationwide lock down announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While the Prime Minister announced the country-wide lock down on the evening of March 24, the union territory administration here had on March 22 announced a lock down across Jammu and Kashmir till 31 March as part of its efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The administration said the essential services including healthcare personnel have been exempted from the restrictions.
Restrictions were first imposed in many parts of the valley on March 19 to contain the spread of the virus infection. The measures were taken after the detection of the first positive case of coronavirus in the valley.
As per official figures there are 314 positive cases of covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory including 38 recoveries and 4 deaths.
As per officials figures 78 positive cases including one death and 12 recoveries are from Srinagar, 66 including eleven recoveries and one death are from Bandipora, 42 including one death are from Baramulla, 12 including three recoveries from Budgam, 3 from Pulwama including one recovery, 14 from Shopian including two recoveries, 25 from Kupwara, 13 from Ganderbal, 4 from Kulgam and 2 from Anantnag in Kashmir division.
In Jammu division, 26 including three recoveries are from Jammu district , 20 including one death and four recoveries are from Udhampur, 4 from Samba and 3 from Rajouri including one recovery and one from Kishtiwar who has also recovered.
As per the daily information bulletin 58,076 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while as 7,463 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 272 persons are in hospital isolation while as 265 persons are under hospital quarantine.
According to the bulletin, 20,706 persons have completed surveillance period and 29,366 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 5,680 samples are available.
Out of 5,680 the number of samples tested negative stands at 5366 while as 314 have been tested positive, among them 272 are active and 38 persons have recovered and 4 have died.(PTK)
