Jmu logs highest 685 cases, surpasses peak of 2nd wave
Fueled by highly transmissible Omicron variant, the fresh Covid infections in the winter capital-Jammu on Saturday have surpassed even the highest tally recorded in both first and second waves of the ongoing pandemic, by logging 685 fresh cases today.
The rise in fresh infections across the union territory has pushed the bed occupancy to 293-upto 6.1%. Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday recorded a single day spike of 3251 new COVID-19 cases- 2122 in Kashmir and 1129 in Jammu-even as two new deaths each were reported in Jammu and Kashmir divisions in the last 24 hours.
In the deadly second wave, Jammu district on May 9 last year saw the highest 658 cases due to the Delta Variant, out of the overall 5190 cases across the UT, with 32 Covid related fatalities. Thankfully the cases presently are due to the Omnicron virus, which though is highly transmissible but the severity is still low.
Atleast forty-two doctors and paramedics of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar and its associated hospitals have tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday. Among the infected around 130 doctors and 120 paramedical staff from SMHS, LD hospital, Super Specialty Hospital Shireen Bagh and other associated hospitals have been tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 15 days.
However despite the surge in cases, hospitalization rates haven’t increased too much what were witnessed in second wave. Against the availability of 4794 dedicated level 1 and level 2 COVID beds, only 293 ( 6.1%) are occupied.
Roughly double the number of cases is being recorded in half the time in the present Omicron wave. Doctors from other hospitals also said that most patients have either no symptoms or mild symptoms, and are being discharged and recommended to remain in home isolation.
Meanwhile officials also said that most deaths which are being reported so far are of unvaccinated people or vaccinated people who have underlying problems.
Amid rise in cases, the weekend lockdown has returned to Jammu and Kashmir. The administrations across the districts have imposed weekend restrictions for containment of covid19 in addition to daily Night Curfews. The shops and business establishments selling non-essential items in winter capital-Jammu shut on Friday evening and shall now will reopen on Monday at 6 am.
Moreover 24 persons have tested positive in DC office in Srinagar today. As per sources most of them are people who came to DC office and few of the staffers.
Meanwhile, the case tally has risen to 355874 while the death toll jumped to 4,561-2,343 in Kashmir and 2,218 in Jammu, officials said. A total of 3,38,453 patients have recovered from the disease so far including the 390 in the last 24 hours. Active cases have surged to 12,860-Jammu and 5690 in Jammu and 7170 in Kashmir. Reasi reported 42 cases for today, Udhampur reported 125 cases, Rajouri reported 34 cases, Doda reported 24 cases, Kathua reported 59 cases, Samba reported 93 cases, Poonch reported 35 case, Kishtwar reported 29 cases while as Ramban reported three fresh cases for today.
In view of surge in Covid-19 cases, authorities at Cluster University of Srinagar (CUS) has deferred all the scheduled that he scheduled to be held after January-17.
