Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, March 17(GNS): Three more persons, admitted to the isolation ward of the SKIMS hospital here, on Tuesday tested negative for coronavirus (Covid-19). Also four persons with a history of travel to Saudi Arabia and Iran respectively were admitted to the isolation ward of the SKIMS hospital and CD Hospital here, officials told GNS.
Nodal officer for coronavirus control at SKIMS, Dr G H Yatoo, told GNS that one sexagenarian woman from Srinagar, who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, was admitted to the hospital and her sample sent for the test.
Dr Yatoo, who is also HoD hospital administration of SKIMS, informed that three more test reports were received and it came to be negative. “All these three persons were admitted yesterday, one of them late Monday night, and all of them had travel history to the countries affected by the covid-19,” he added.
Meanwhile, a senior doctor at CD hospital here said 3 more persons with symptoms like coronoavirus were admitted to the isolation facility set up in the hospital.
“One of them had returned from Iran and two others from Saudi Arabia (after performing Umrah),” the doctor said. He said before them, nine persons were admitted in the isolation facility.
When contacted reputed physician and HOD Chest Disease (CD) Hospital Srinagar Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah said that nine samples were tested and all of them came to be negative. “3 test reports are awaited,” he added.
So far, no person has tested positive for the coronavirus in Kashmir Valley and three such cases were reported from Jammu including one of them on March 16.
Meanwhile as per official health bulletin, 2615 people have been enlisted for observation so far in entire Jammu and Kashmir.
It said 113 samples were taken across the union territory and so far three persons tested positive and 105 others tested negative for COVID-19. “Five test reports are awaited.”
Among enlisted persons for observation, it informed 2060 persons are kept in “home quarantine” and 28 in “hospital quarantine”.
230 persons, the government said, have completed their 28 days surveillance period.
A home quarantined person has been advised to stay in a well-ventilated single-room preferably with an attached/separate toilet. Besides stay away from elderly people, pregnant women, children and persons with co-morbidities within the household, the advisory said.
Home quarantined persons should also restrict his/her movement within the house and under no circumstances attend any social/religious gatherings like weddings and condolences.
The government also urged general public to lend support to its efforts to strengthen surveillance mechanism by making self-declaration about their foreign travel history to health authorities. Moreover all social, religious and political organisations are urged to avoid large gatherings.
The Government has urged the general public to maintain social distancing as it is the key to stop and prevent the spread of Covid-19 from those who are infected.
“The intervention includes remaining out of crowded settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible,” the Government advisory said.
Further, the Government has appealed people not to panic and take care of health and protect others.
“Public in general is advised to avoid un-necessary travel and use of public transport; avoid crowded places and large gatherings, do not spit in public. People must take basic precautions for personal hygiene; frequent handwashing with soap and water and observing coughing and sneezing etiquettes,” the Government advisory added. (GNS)
