13 pregnant women among 85 new COVID cases in Kashmir

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 16

At least 13 pregnant women are among the 85 persons who tested positive for coronavirus — the highest single-day caseload in Kashmir — on Saturday, taking the total positive cases in the Union Territory to 1,098.

All of the 13 pregnant women are from south Kashmir’s Anantnag and Kulgam districts, said a senior Health Department official.

Most of the positive cases reported on Saturday are travellers from different countries entering the Union Territory, the official added.

The official informed, Kulgam reported highest 46 cases on Saturday, Anantnag 17, Kupwara 12, Budgam five, Srinagar three and Baramulla two.

Until Saturday, government has failed to establish separate antenatal care in most of the districts for pregnant women who are COVID-19 suspects or positive for the virus.

“Women with early pregnancies are becoming more apprehensive with each passing day as their expected date of delivery is approaching. Many women are even delaying their pregnancies as there is no proper antenatal care in place in Kashmir,” a leading gynaecologist said on condition of anonymity.

The doctor said antenatal care should have been anticipated well in advance as this emergency was inevitable.

“Tracking of pregnant women is still not effective as they are not registered with ASHA workers. Any pregnant woman can land anywhere depending on their preferences, which is fraught with dangers,” the doctor added.

Experts said returnees were posing a major threat to Kashmir and urged the government to regulate their movement.

“I think we need to be extra cautious after receiving people from different countries. The government should ensure effective screening and strict quarantine of these travellers. They should not be allowed to mix with community until they complete their quarantine period,” said a public health expert.

“Majority of the coronavirus cases in J&K are asymptomatic, which may have something to do with the strain of the virus. But people coming in from different countries could bring new strains and can create trouble,” he said.

Nearly 50,000 people, who were stranded in different parts of India and other countries, were brought back to Jammu and Kashmir by the government till Friday morning.

A majority of the positive cases – 975 – have been reported from Kashmir while Jammu has reported 110 cases.