Genome Sequencing Lab still not functional
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 2: With the advent of April month, COVID cases in Jammu and Kashmir have started surging as a total of 52 COVID positive cases have been reported in last 48 hours in the Union Territory. However, it is a matter of relief that there is no death reported due to COVID and admission in hospitals is still negligible.
Official sources told Excelsior that 19 new COVID positive cases were reported today, one from Jammu Division and 18 from Kashmir Province. The lone case of Jammu Division has been reported from Ramban district while in Kashmir valley, 6 cases were reported from Srinagar district, 4 each from Budgam and Ganderbal, and one each from Baramulla, Kulgam, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.
As per sources, a total of 2053 Covid tests were conducted in the Union Territory in last 24 hours. The number of active Covid cases in the UT as on date is 14,824 in Jammu Division and 124 in Kashmir Province whereas 2 Covid patients recovered today, one each from Jammu and Kashmir Divisions. The number of active cases in Srinagar district is 43, followed by 31 in Budgam, 19 in Jammu, 18 in Ganderbal, 11 in Pulwama, 7 each in Baramulla and Kulgam districts, 4 in Kupwara, 2 in Reasi and one each in Anantnag, Bandipora, Shopian, Ramban, Kathua and Samba districts.
Sources further disclosed that 33 new COVID positive cases were reported yesterday in the UT, 3 from Jammu Division and 30 from Kashmir valley. They said eight COVID positive patients including a woman and 7 children were reported yesterday from Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital, Jammu and they were admitted in Maternity Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, the 3rd floor of which has been kept reserved for the COVID patients.
“As on date, only five COVID positive patients are admitted in Maternity Hospital, Gandhi Nagar (Jammu) as 3 patients were discharged this evening after they recovered fully,” sources said, adding, Medical Superintendent of Maternity Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, who was also reportedly found to be COVID positive yesterday, is presently in home isolation as he had no major symptoms.
Meanwhile, sources said it is not known that which variant is causing surge in COVID cases in Jammu as the Genome Sequencing Lab established in Maternity Hospital, Gandhi Nagar is still not functional as the concerned company from which the Genome Sequencing machines have been procured, had not yet supplied kits for genome sequencing. They said as a result, COVID samples from Jammu Division are being sent to SKIMS Soura for genome sequencing and 1st lot of samples were sent to SKIMS Soura yesterday and their report is likely to come in 4-5 days.
Experts, meanwhile, said people should not panic and instead take precautions, wear masks in crowded places, wash hands frequently and keep physical distancing. They said high-risk groups and the elderly people should need to be more vigilant. They said in coming days, cases may rise faster and the only way to stop this trend is to adopt COVID-Appropriate Bahaviour.
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