Recoveries outpace new cases in J&K for second day in row 4,354 fresh cases, five more fatalities

The recoveries have outpaced the fresh infections in the Jammu and Kashmir for the second consecutive day signaling the peaking of third wave, as union territory on Friday recorded 4,354 new Covid cases as the infection tally rose to 4,24,085, while five more fatalities in the last 24 hours pushed the death toll to 4,647. Today 5850 Covid patients recovered across the UT including 1918 from Jammu region and 3932 from Kashmir region.
On Thursday 6264 patients recovered, while 4959 were the fresh cases.

Meanwhile, lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while reviewing the Covid-19 situation across the UT reiterated the importance of Tele-consultation, expanding the services to far-flung areas and efficient monitoring of those in home isolation. The 64-hour-long weekend lockdown-to prevent the Covid-19 from spreading has begun across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday for the third straight week in the Union Territory.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) High Court has extended virtual hearing of cases in all courts in the Union Territories (UTs) of J&K and Ladakh till February 15 in view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the fresh cases, 1,440 were from the Jammu division and 2,914 from the Kashmir division. Srinagar district recorded the highest of 916 cases followed by 763 cases in Jammu district. There are 45,156 active cases in the Union Territory, while the number of recovered patients is 3,74,282.

In the meeting, lieutenant Governor also underlined the importance of involving Community in awareness campaigns to sensitize people on mask usage and Covid protocol. “We need to protect healthcare personnel, patients and communities, and accordingly our focus should remain on ramping up healthcare infrastructure, availability of oxygen, ventilators, essential medicines, etc”, the Lt Governor said.

The Lt Governor stressed that Testing, Tracing, Treatment, Covid Appropriate Behaviour and Vaccination will continue to be our strategy to effectively fight the Covid-19.
He impressed upon the officials to ensure proper implementation of Covid Protocol and CAB among the people to effectively break the chain of transmission.

As per the order issued by Sanjeev Gupta, Registrar General on the directions of the Chief Justice, ordinarily the hearing of cases listed before a Bench shall be through virtual mode, however, physical hearing in respect of any listed matter will be at the discretion of the Bench concerned subject to the satisfaction of the Bench regarding urgency involved in such matter and thereafter such matter can be taken up for physical hearing on the date fixed by the Bench.

“For smooth hearing of the cases through virtual mode, the Registrars Judicial of both wings of the High Court in coordination with the CPC e-Courts shall create a link for each Bench in their respective wings and provide the same to the advocates/litigants by making it available on the official website of the High Court or through any appropriate electronic mode”, the order said, adding “filing of cases shall be in accordance with the Electronic Filing (e-Filing) in the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and in Subordinate Courts and Tribunals of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Rules, 2021 either through e-Filing portal of the High Court or through e-mail address of the respective filing counters of the High Court”.

In order to decongest the sections/offices/courts, the officials shall be permitted to function in batches with 50 percent reduction on rotation basis. Moreover, the Registrars Judicial of both wings of the High Court shall ensure sanitization of the entire High Court Complex on every Saturday and Sunday and the staff on duty and the counsel, if any permitted for physical hearing, shall take necessary precautions, ensure physical distancing, wearing of mask and observance of SOPs and guidelines issued by the respective Governments from time to time.

The weekend lockdown was announced by the State Executive Committee (SEC) headed by Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir following the surge in the Covid-9 cases in Jammu and Kashmir from past couple of weeks. All the markets, business establishments and other non-essential services remained closed from the afternoon ere while public traffic was also off the roads.

However, policemen at different places were seen implementing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as a number of persons who were found without face masks were fined. The commuters without face masks were also being fined, witnesses said. The lockdown will continue till Monday morning.