46 more +ve from City markets during RAT
7 from SOG, 9 of 2 families infected
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 26: Amidst spike in Corona deaths and fresh cases in Jammu region, the authorities today directed the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu administration to increase bed capacity for COVID patients from 33 to 200 and immediate creation of facility for delivery of virus-infected women in the SMGS Hospital.
The Government order came as three more persons succumbed to the pathogen in Jammu today and 195 new cases were reported including 98 in Jammu district alone, 81 of whom had no travel history. COVID cases recorded in Jammu district today were highest in a single day since pandemic broke out. Forty six persons were tested positive in various markets of Jammu City and outskirts during Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) today.
Today’s positives include seven more police personnel from SOG Jammu, nine members of two families from Housing Colony Udhampur, five of a family in Bhaderwah, seven persons from Gandhi Nagar, four from BSF Camp Paloura, three more doctors, four persons each from Roop Nagar and Satwari and three each from RS Pura and Bakshi Nagar.
During Rapid Antigen Testing today, 46 persons reported positive for the virus from various markets including six from Apsara Road, five from Government School complex Nowabad, three each from Bhagwati Nagar and Science College, two each from Canal Road, Nai Basti and Shiv Om Palace Talab Tillo and one each from Dussehra Ground, Arya Samaj Bakshi Nagar, Talab Tillo, Paloura, Ware House and Government High School Nai Basti. Eighteen positive cases were reported from other places. No positives were reported from Sidhra, Muthi and Shastri Nagar markets.
Yesterday, 34 persons had tested COVID positive from Gole Market Gandhi Nagar, Kabir Basti and Director Health Services Office in the Rapid Antigen Testing.
An order issued today by Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education Department Atal Dulloo directed Principal GMC Jammu Dr Nasib Chand Digra to ensure that 200 beds including 91 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds with 71 ventilators are made functional for the COVID patients by this evening. The GMC Jammu so far had 33 beds for Corona patients.
Dulloo has also directed the Principal to create facilities for delivery of COVID positive women in the SMGS Hospital Jammu as an alternative to the facilities available in Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar.
Doctors in the GMC Jammu, however, lamented that no additional staff including doctors, paramedics etc has been sanctioned while increasing strength of COVID beds from 33 to 200. They said a number of doctors and paramedics have been infected by the virus and many others were on quarantine as contacts of positive cases. They hoped that the Government would also sanction sufficient staff for the extra COVID beds so that the patients are properly attended.
Authorities were anticipating spike in Corona cases as the administration planned to conduct random sampling through Rapid Antigen Tests on 6025 persons in different parts of Jammu City and outskirts in next one week.
Health experts again opined that there was no need to keep asymptomatic patients in the hospitals and they should be allowed home isolation if they have separate room at their home as they can be prescribed treatment. This will reduce burden on the hospitals and symptomatic and serious patients will get better care, they said, adding that an order to this effect was issued by the Government earlier which was implemented in Kashmir but was withdrawn for Jammu region.
Meanwhile, a 62-year-old man from New Plot died of COVID-19 in the GMC Jammu this morning. He was suffering from Community Acquired Pneumonia and was admitted in the hospital on August 18.
A 63-year-old trader from Nowshera in Rajouri district who was suffering from COVID Pneumonia, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Ejection Fraction and was positive for the virus died in the GMC Jammu this evening, Medical Superintendent Dr Dara Singh said, adding he was admitted in the hospital since August 22 and remained on oxygen and ventilator.
A 70-year-old woman from Darhal in Rajouri district presently putting up at Ward No. 4 in Rajouri town who was suffering from multiple ailments and was COVID positive succumbed to the virus in the GMC Rajouri early today.
Jammu region now has total of 55 Corona casualties, the highest being 37 in Jammu district, five in Rajouri, three Poonch, two each in Kathua, Udhampur, Samba and Doda districts and one each in Ramban and Kishtwar districts.
In Jammu district, seven more police personnel from SOG Jammu reported Corona positive taking total number of positives from the office to 10. A senior police officer of the SOG tested negative. Today’s positives were head constables and constables.
A total of seven persons tested positive in Gandhi Nagar including three members of a family. Four jawans from BSF Camp Paloura have also tested positive. Three more doctors have been infected by the virus. Four persons each from Roop Nagar and Satwari, three each from RS Pura and Bakshi Nagar and a couple from Pouni have also tested positive.
Other positives of Jammu district include27-year-old youth from Bishnah, 50-year-old woman from Muthi, youth from Gangyal, 20-year-old youth from Trikuta Nagar, 59-year-old woman from Shiv Nagar, youth from Bahu Fort, teenager girl from Nagrota, middle-aged woman from New Plot, 31-year-old woman from Treva, 46-year-old woman from Durga Nagar, youth from Akhnoor, 23-year-old from Prem Nagar, two youths from Muthi, 35-year-old from Jagti, youth from Buta Nagar, middle aged man from Gadigarh, 42-year-old man from Wazarat Road, 38-year-old from Bohri, 47-year-old man from Channi Himmat and three middle-aged persons from Bhour Camp, Gole Gujral and Laswara Bishnah.
Twenty seven fresh Corona cases were today reported from Kathua district including 11 travelers, nine contacts of positive persons and seven who were tested during random sampling.
Seven persons who were tested randomly include three from Ward No. 6 Logate and one each from Basohli, Bhagwati Nagar Kathua, Chak Ram Singh and Ward No. 3 Shiv Puri Kathua, District Magistrate OP Bhagat said.
Fifteen persons today tested positive for COVID-19 in Udhampur district, Deputy Commissioner Dr Piyush Singla said.
Of them, nine belonged to two families of Housing Colony who were contacts of an already positive person. Other positives of Udhampur district include two brothers from Lambi Gali, a woman of Patna from Northern Command and one each from Court Road and Kallar.
The District Magistrate Udhampur has declared Housing Colony Udhampur as Containment Zone.
Twelve persons have tested positive for the virus in Samba district, SSP Samba Shakti Pathak said.
They include one official each from AG office, SIDCO Samba, Railways, Special Bureau, one Government teacher, one each jawan from Army and police, a contractor, car repairer and factory worker.
Of nine positives in Kishtwar district, two hailed from village Panjnari, who were contacts of positive persons while rest were travelers.
Seven new cases were reported from Doda district including five members of a family from Bhaderwah tehsil, one pregnant woman and a traveler.
Three new Corona positive cases were reported from Ramban district including one each from Maitra Ramban and Mangat Banihal. The third positive person was a traveler.
Seventeen persons tested positive for the virus in Rajouri district including eight locals and nine travelers while seven were found infected in Poonch district including five locals and two travelers. Reasi district didn’t report any Corona case today.
As many as 126 Corona patients were today discharged from various COVID hospitals of Jammu region including 48 in Jammu district, 17 Samba, 14 Kathua, 12 Doda, eight Reasi, seven each in Rajouri and Ramban districts and three in Poonch district.
As per official figures, Jammu region now has 7608 Corona cases including 1652 active as 5902 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals while there have been 54 casualties.
Meanwhile, the Union Territory of Ladakh today reported one more Corona casualty in Kargil district and 31 new cases.
With today’s death, Corona toll in Ladakh has climbed to 25—eight in Leh and 17 in Kargil. Corona cases have gone up to 2451—1289 in Leh and 1162 in Kargil and active cases to 846—528 in Leh and 318 in Kargil.
Chopper service
resumes to cave shrine
For the first time since resumption of pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji on August 16 after nearly five month long closure of the Bhawan, the helicopter services operated today from Katra to Sanji Chat.
However, the helicopters carried out only two sorties after which the weather disrupted the flights. Twelve persons flew to Sanji Chat and six from Sanji Chat to Katra.
The Shrine Board while keeping 2000 quota of pilgrims per day has increased registration for outsiders from Jammu and Kashmir to 250 from earlier 100. The locals of J&K has now quota of 1750 per day.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
