Coronavirus scare on rise in valley

Srinagar: As the Jammu and Kashmir administration has geared up to tackle any eventuality due to the deadly virus, the coronavirus (COVID) 19) scare has started looming large in Kashmir.
Reports said the deadly coronavirus that took birth from Wuhan city of China is spread in many countries at present and claimed over 3000 lives in different countries mostly in China so far.
The threat of the virus has also prompted the Jammu and Kashmir administration to address a press conference to spread awareness among the people as well as making people aware about the steps being taken to tackle the situation even at a time when no positive case has been reported in the Union Territory.
The people in Kashmir irrespective of the age group can be seen discussing the deadly viral virus and its consequences at public places in valley. Some people who have flu symptoms have been kept at isolation in Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) here. People in large numbers are coming to buy masks and sanitizers, especially the spray sanitizers. The interesting part is that every customer is buying these items in bulk,” said a Chemist at Lal Chowk, Srinagar.
He said that demand for these items have suddenly gone up in the wake of scare created by the spread of deadly virus—Covid-19. In Kashmir, people have been asked by the authorities not to panic and to maintain hygiene and to take preventive measures. Another Chemist said that the people buy three layer masks in bulk and also the sanitizers. “If the rush of people remains same, these items will run out of stock,” he saidFortunately, no one has been found positive so far in Jammu and Kashmir while as the administration has appealed people not to panic in this regard. Besides, to keep men and machinery ready for any eventuality, the administration has also set up a 10-bed isolation ward with general Out Patient Department (OPD) at Sanantnagar hospital to deal with such patients. The administration has also deputed doctors at Srinagar International Airport here for the screening of the passengers. Besides, check-points have also been set up on Srinagar-Jammu highway to screen the travelers from affected countrie