15 fatalities take toll to 966 in J&K

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 18

With 1,330 new Covid cases, 672 from the Jammu division and 658 from Kashmir Valley, during the past 24 hours, the caseload in J&K reached 61,041.

Fifteen deaths, 10 from the Jammu province and five from the Valley, were reported during the same period, taking the death toll to 966.

A total of 784 more patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, 294 from the Jammu division and 490 from the Kashmir valley.

62 KAS officers deployed for containing Covid

• Amid spike in Covid-19 cases across Jammu and Kashmir, the UT Administration on Friday deployed 62 KAS officers (probationers) for assisting in coronavirus mitigation efforts.
• According to an order issued by the government, the officers would be extending their services for containing the spread of the virus till April 30 next year.

According to the official bulletin issued on Friday evening, out of the 61,041 positive cases, 20,770 were active positive, 39,305 had recovered and 966 had died, 209 in the Jammu division and 757 in the Kashmir province.

The bulletin further said that out of the 13,45,750 test results available, 12,84,709 samples had tested negative.

Till date, 5,38,621 travellers and persons in contact with the suspected cases had been enlisted for observation, out of whom 4,22,498 persons had completed their surveillance period.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has decided to depute a high-level Central team to Jammu to assist in strengthening containment, surveillance, testing and efficient clinical management of positive cases.

The team comprises Dr SK Singh, Director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Dr Vijay Hadda, Professor, Department of Pulmonary Critical Care, AIIMS, New Delhi.

Reports said the team would interact with district collectors and health officers of Jammu. It shall also visit Government Medical College Bakshinagar and Gandhinagar Hospital which is a dedicated Covid centre.

UT  TRACKER

Total persons under surveillance 5,38,621
Persons completing surveillance 4,22,498
Samples tested 13,45,750
Negative results 12,84,709
Positive cases 61,041
Patients cured 39,305
Total deaths 966