Kashmir records first covid-19 fatality, 2 brothers, one of them 8 months old test positive

Kashmir Valley recorded first fatality due to novel coronavirus as a 67-year-old man infected with the pathogen died in a hospital here on Thursday. Besides two siblings, aged 7 years and 8 months-old respectively, tested positive for coronavirus disease (covid-19) in Srinagar, officials said.

A senior doctor said the sexagenarian man, a resident of Hyderpora Srinagar, died at Chest Disease hospital where he was admitted for last few days.

“Despite our best efforts, the COVID-19 positive patient at Chest Disease Hospital passed away due to cardiac arrest. The patient had medical history of illness with Sugar, hypertension, obesity,” the doctor told GNS.

Originally a resident of Sopore, the man had returned from New Delhi, UP, Jammu recently after being part of a ‘Tablighi Jamaat’ attended by people from Indonesia and Malaysia. He had tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday.

Meanwhile two brothers, one of them 8-months old and other 7-years-old tested positive for covid-19. They had come in contact with their grandfather from Natipora who had arrived from Saudi Arabia recently and tested positive for Covid-19 on March 24.

“Two more positive cases in Srinagar. Siblings (7 years old and 8 months old)- grandchildren of a confirmed case from Srinagar with travel history to Saudi Arabia who had tested positive on 24th. Total number of active positive cases now 11,” said Government Spokesperson Rohit Kansal.

A senior doctor at JLNM hospital told GNS that the duo is presently admitted in the hospital at Rainawari and their samples were taken recently. “The test reports were received today and they came out to be positive,” the doctor said. The man from Natipora had returned from Saudi Arabia on March 16 after performing Umrah and had shared the same flight as that of the Kashmir’s first covid-19 patient, a 67-year-old woman from Srinagar’s Khaniyar area who, according to the doctors at SKIMS Soura, is recovering.    

So far ten people have tested positive in Kashmir, four of them residents of Hajin Bandipora who are aged between 25 to 33 years and they had come in contact with the sexagenarian man from Hyderpora who died at Chest Disease hospital early today.  In all, 13 persons have tested positive for the covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir, three of them are in winter capital of the UT of J&K.

Meanwhile, sources said there are 32 persons including the two children who have been admitted in JLNM Hospital Rainwari, declared recently among three hospitals exclusively for Covid-19 management. Most of them are either relatives or neighbours of the man from Natipora Srinagar. 

Professor Farooq Ahmad Jan, the medical superintendent of SKIMS, told GNS that thirteen samples came out to negative. He said nine more persons with covid-19-like symptoms were admitted to hospital where five covid-19 patients are in isolation and 29 others in quarantine.

Dr Naveed Nazir, HOD CD hospital, told GNS that 12 more persons were admitted to the hospital and six sample were received today and all of them are negative.

Meanwhile, the Government informed that date 5482 travellers and persons in contact with suspected covid-19 persons have been put under. While a sexagenarian person died, two brothers, 8-months and 7-years old respective, tested positive for the covid-19.   

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel coronavirus (COVID-19) 3053 persons have been kept under home quarantine while as 117 are in hospital quarantine.

Persons who are under home surveillance stand at 1761 while as 551 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period.

It said that 379 samples have been sent for testing of which 341 tested as negative and 13 cases have tested positive so far while as  25 reports are awaited.

The government appealed people to stay in their homes and take the lockdown imposed by Government with utmost sincerity as carelessness of few can throw at into grave jeopardy. Those violating the lockdown orders can face legal action under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, which lays down punishment as per Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, for flouting such orders.

“The government of India requests for volunteer doctors who are fit and willing to be available for providing their services in the public health facilities and the training hospitals in the near future in case the outbreak leads to a high number of infected individuals. Retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or private doctors are appealed to come forward at this hour of need,” reads the statement, adding, “Those who wish to contribute to this and be a part of this nobel mission to serve the country may register themselves on httus://niti.gov.in/healthcovid/volunteer covid.nho

State Health Society, J&K has called for hiring of specialists & Medical Officers (MBBS) under NHM in the UT and qualified candidates can come for walk-in interview on any day , it said.

“Public is emphasized on the implementation of Social Distancing measures as it is the Key to stop and prevent the spread of Covid-19 from those who are infected to those who are not infected. The intervention includes remaining out of crowded settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others.” (GNS)