All 92 red zones in JK to remain under tight restrictions, our target 1000 tests per day: Kansal

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir Government on Tuesday said that all the 92 red zones will remains under tight restrictions and the target to conduct 1000 tests a day has been set to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing press conference at Jammu, government spokesman Rohit Kansal said that 12 new cases have tested positive in J&K of which 11 are from Kashmir and one from Jammu’s Kathua district. Kathua has reported first Covid-19 case today. Confirming the same through a tweet, Kansal wrote on his twitter handle: “12 new cases- 11 from Kashmir 1 from Jammu division (Kathua). 10 recoveries too. Total cases now 380. Jammu Division-56 and Kashmir Division-324.”
He said that there have been 81 recoveries across the J&K so far as government continues to fight the pandemic with all its resources. “We unfortunately had five deaths so far as well,” Kansal said addressing the presser. Kansal said that that 60,000 people have been enlisted for surveillance of which 35000 have completed mandatory 28-days quarantine. “Of the 380 cases there are 294 active cases. 251 active cases are in Kashmir and 38 in Jammu region,” he said.
He said so far 75 to 80 per cent Covid-19 patients have been found as “asymptomatic” while remaining had clear symptoms of the virus. Kansal said that in J&K UT, there are 92 red zones of which 14 are in Jammu and 78 in Kashmir division.
“These red zones will be under strict restrictions, extra surveillance, and enhanced testing will be done for the people living there,” he said. “People living in red zones, hotspots and containment areas will have to face restrictions. We want to assure the people that administration and the health department are doing everything to minimize the inconvenience to the people.”
Kansal said that continued support of people and cooperation has led to proactive contact tracing in J&K which has helped the government to arrest the transmission of the disease. “I would like to state here that our testing rate has considerably improved and at present our testing rate is 703 per million, one of the highest in the country.
We are targeting 1000 per day,” he said. “We are also planning to enhance the testing capacity by adding more labs. We are getting more manpower, automatic machines and ensuring all gadgets through the supply chain. We are also ensuring sample collection centers at all districts. This all has slowed the growth of virus.”
He also said that supply of essential commodities in Kashmir is normal and that 1000 trucks have reached Kashmir today with essential supplies including fruit, vegetable, LPG etc. “We understand that a section of people is facing economic hardships and they are being covered under Prime Minister’s Gareeb Kalyan Yojna across J&K,” Kansal said