E-Paper
J&K to start booster doses on war footing after 250% spike in Covid cases
Jammu and Kashmir recorded a 250% spike in Covid-19 cases in the past 10 days with a test positive rate of 3.17%
Jammu and Kashmir registered a 250% increase in Covid-19 cases in the past 10 days prompting the authorities to direct health officials to start booster vaccine doses against the virus in the Union Territory on a war footing.
From July 16 to 25, the Union Territory reported 3,953 Coronavirus infections while only 1,130 cases were recorded 10 days earlier from July 6 to 15, an analysis of daily official health data revealed. There were a mere 733 cases from June 26 to July 5.
Overall 5,816 cases were reported in the past 30 days of which 68% infections were seen from July 16-25, 19% from July 6-15 and 12% from June 26-July 5.
The past 10 days have shown a test positive rate of 3.17% as against 1.11% from July 6-15. Even though the number of tests has increased to 1, 24,401 in the past 10 days compared to 1, 01,125 tests further 10 days before that.
The active cases crossed 3,300 on July 25 in the Union Territory from being below 60 in the first week of June. Most of these active cases are in the twin cities of Jammu (1,135) and Srinagar (1,072) followed by 280 in Baramulla and 124 in Udhampur districts. Eight deaths have been reported this month – seven of them in the Jammu division.
On Monday, J&K chief secretary (CS), Dr Arun Kumar Mehta held a meeting with health officials, doctors and principals of government medical colleges emphasising on administering booster vaccination doses against Covid-19 to the eligible population of Jammu and Kashmir on a war footing basis.
“CS directed the officers concerned to frame a comprehensive strategy to gear up their efforts and saturate the targeted groups of vulnerable population and organise systematic vaccination drives for prompt booster vaccination of the remaining segment,” the government said in a statement.
“The booster dose was essential for all eligible populations. The remaining population should be contacted and a time slot be fixed to administer doses to them within the set deadlines,” Mehta said.
He also directed the concerned officers to inform people that the current variant of Covid-19 has less mortality rate and precautions need to be taken without need to get “scared unnecessarily”.
During the meeting, director SKIMS, Prof. Parvaiz Ahmad Koul informed about the current status of Covid-19 and the measures that are in place to stop the spread of virus.
He said that only four Covid-19 positive patients are presently under observation at SKIMS and they are recovering well. “The current trend shows low Covid mortality but there is need to be prepared in all respects,” Koul said.
