One death, 234 Corona cases in J&K
Spurt in Ladakh too: 38 found infected
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR/ LEH, Dec 1: In a major spike, 89 pilgrims of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine belonging to different States of the country today tested positive for COVID-19 on their arrival at Katra Railway Station but, as per the existing protocol, the district Reasi administration immediately isolated them in the “holding area”, packed them in vehicles and sent them to their States in the vehicles already reserved for such an eventuality.
Six members of a family in Talab Tillo Bohri, three in Trikuta Nagar and two in Rehari in Jammu were also found infected in Jammu district.
One COVID casualty and 118 cases were reported in Kashmir division while 116 cases were recorded in Jammu region. Spurt in the cases also continued in the Union Territory of Ladakh where 38 fresh positives were registered.
CEO Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Ramesh Kumar said the pilgrims testing positive for the virus were treated as per the set Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by the district administration.
District Magistrate Reasi Charandeep Singh told the Excelsior that as soon as 89 pilgrims tested positive for COVID-19, the district administration lodged them in the “holding area” established within the Railway Station.
“The pilgrims were attended by the staff, lodged in the vehicles and sent to Lakhanpur where they will board the vehicles of their States,” Charandeep said.
There is no impact on the yatra, he added.
Maximum 34 positives were reported from New Delhi followed by 23 in Punjab, nine Haryana, seven each in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, three from Bihar and one each from Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Trains in which they were travelling include Shri Shakti, Hemkunt, Uttar Samparak Kranti, Jammu Mail, Ahmedabad Special and Kalika Express.
“Entire process of isolating patients and shifting them to vehicles on way to Lakhanpur is completed within the bare minimum time to ensure that the pilgrims found infected don’t come in touch with other yatris,” Charandeep said.
Meanwhile, other COVID positive cases in Jammu region were reported from Jammu district 20, Udhampur, Rajouri and Kishtwar districts two each and Doda and Poonch one each. Samba and Ramban districts didn’t report any cases.
Twenty six persons recovered from the virus.
Jammu’s Corona count now stood at 1,25,164. Among them, 1,22,598 have recovered from the virus while there have been 2185 casualties.
Number of active positive cases in the region stood at 381.
Among 38 new cases in the Union Territory of Ladakh, 36 were reported from Leh and two in Kargil district.
This has taken number of active positive cases in Ladakh to 276 including 255 in Leh and 21 in Kargil.
There were 214 COVID casualties in Ladakh—156 in Leh and 58 in Kargil.
Meanwhile, Kashmir today reported 118 fresh cases of COVID-19 and one person who was infected with COVID virus succumbed.
Those who tested positive include 63 from Srinagar, 28 from Baramulla, 3 from Budgam, 1 from Pulwama, 5 from Kupwara, 6 from Bandipora, 06 from Ganderbal and 6 from Kulgam.
The number of cases in Kashmir division has reached 211,922 including 208,324 recoveries and 2,292 deaths.
With 171 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 330,922 which is 98.17 percent of the total cases.
Meanwhile, Srinagar administration today set up three Special Quarantine Centers for international travellers in the wake of the outbreak of Omicron.
“Mariage hall at Sanantnagar area of city and two hotels with all facilities have been converted into quarantine centers. After undergoing COVID tests at the Srinagar airport, international travellers will have to stay for eight-hours mandatory quarantine at these centers,” the official said.
He said in case any traveller tests positive for the COVID-19 or the new virus mutant, he/she will be shifted to DRDO COVID hospital for special treatment.
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