Srinagar: The number of COVID-19 patients in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 4on Tuesday, after three more patients tested positive for the dreaded virus.
Taking to social networking site Twitter, government spokesman Rohit Kansal wrote: “2 more cases reported positive in Srinagar. One has confirmed travel history outside India. Full details regarding the second being ascertained.”
Shortly after the news, District Development Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdary tweeted that teams are on ground as per Standard Operating Procedure. “We need to be more alert and cooperative,” he said.
Both these cases have been reported by Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar. Nodal Officer for Coronavirus SKIMS, Dr Ghulam Hasan Itoo said that only a woman infected with virus is admitted at the SKIMS. “The woman from Khayam was tested positive on March 18 and rest we don’t have any positive Coronavirus cases,” Dr Itoo said adding that she is doing well.
Principal Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr Samia Rashid said that two tests have been found positive at CD hospital and both hail from Civil Lines area. She said few days back the duo was referred from SMHS Hospital to CD Hospital.
Head of Department, CD Hospital Dr Naveed said that both arrived at CD Hospital a couple of days ago. He said that both are elderly and have travel history. “One hails from Natipora area of Srinagar who had arrived in the same flight (443-Air India) which was boarded by the 67-year-old infected woman that landed at Srinagar Airport on March 16. “This Natipora man, though self reported in hospital but he might have spent a lot a time at home. The flight in which the infected woman was travelling landed in Srinagar on March 16 and this man reported only a few days back in the hospital,” he said adding that the infected man has a travel history to Saudi Arabia.
Another man, Dr Naveed said has also travel history. “It seems while staying at Delhi, he might have come into contact with Coronavirus infected patient. “We are treating them in the hospital,” he added.
Director, National Health Mission Bhupinder Singh said that the native areas both the infected patients will be sanitized without any delay. He appealed people with travel history to reveal their identities and report to hospital in case they have developed any symptoms of the disease caused by Coronavirus.
Locals from Hyderpora, said that the infected person actually hails from Sopore who stayed only for a day at home in Srinagar and went back to Sopore and another areas. He went to JVC Bemina and SKIMS for check-up and took medicines. He even offered Friday congregational prayers in a mosque.
Meanwhile, Director SKIMS Dr AG Ahangar revealed that there are total four positive cases reported so for in Kashmir. Two have been admitted at SKIMS one at GMC Baramulla, while two at CD Hospital. He said that the test of a patient admitted in GMC Baramulla has found to be positive. He said details are being ascertained whether the infected patient from Bandipora has any travel history or not.
Ahangar was addressing a press conference here in Srinagar. He was accompanied by District Development Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Chowdary.
Ahangar, though didn’t divulge any history of the patient, hailing from Bandipora , but sources said that the young patient had recently returned from Saudi Arabia.
Dr Ahangar appealed people to cooperate with the government and follow instructions. He said the success lies in cooperation and if people follow the instructions, this outbreak can be checked. He said that people should not take drugs without any prescription as they have side effects.
Meanwhile, Srinagar Municipal Corporation team sanitized the native areas of these infected patients.