J&K crosses 50,000 mark with 1,578 fresh infections

Jammu and Kashmir on Friday recorded nine deaths and 1,578 fresh Covid-19 infections, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union territory to 50,712, as per the medical bulletin.

The UT crossed the 50,000 mark in seven months after the first Covid-19 cases were registered. Of the new cases, 808 were from Jammu division and 770 from Kashmir. The region is recording more than 1,000 fresh cases daily for the past one week. The infections in Jammu district have also significantly spiked in the past few days.

Nine more people have also succumbed to the virus—six in Jammu and three in Kashmir. The death toll has reached 854. Of the total fatalities, 717 people have died in ten districts of Kashmir with 247 deaths in Srinagar followed by 111 in Baramulla, so far.

Jammu and Srinagar districts witnessed highest spike in fresh cases on Friday. The government has conducted 11,77,773 tests across J&K till date.

A senior doctor said the number of cases in Jammu could go further up in the coming days. “Earlier, very less number of people used to come out from their homes in Jammu. However, it has changed now and so there is spike in the cases. People should take precautions,” he said.

Medical superintendent at SKIMS Dr Farooq Jan said the situation in the Valley is now under control despite fresh cases being reported daily. “We have sufficient beds to adjust new patients at SKIMS,” he added.