COVID-19 2nd wave:- Positivity rate increases from 6% to 10.4%, fatality rate increases from 0.9% to 1.7% in J&K

Kashmir shows surge in cases, Jammu in deaths

SRINAGAR, JUN 4: As the Covid-19 cases and deaths in Jammu and Kashmir showed a surge in both divisions of the Union Territory (UT), however, case rates are more in Kashmir, while the fatality rate is high in Jammu division.

As per the data available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the overall positivity rate in the Union Territory increased from 6.0 to 10.4 percent and case fatality rate increased front 0.9 to 1.7 percent.

The overall case positivity rate (CPR) in the UT was from 6.0 percent to 10.4 percent and case fatality rate (CFR) from 0.9 percent to 1.7 percent. The corresponding data for Kashmir province were 8.1 percent to 14.2 percent (CPR) and 0.6 to 1.1 percent (CFR) respectively and for Jammu province 4.1 percent to 7.1 percent (CPR) and 1.4 to 2.5 percent (CFR), reads the data.

“So, the disease was more prevalent in Kashmir province and death occurred more in Jammu province,” it said. “Kashmir province had major impetus in tourist activity before the second wave and major breakdown in Covid-appropriate behaviour and discipline, leading to enhanced transmission and higher disease load.”

The data said that the SARS-CoV-2 variants both B.1.1.7 (the UK variant) AND B.1.617.2 (the Indian Variant) were seen exclusively in Jammu province. “Both these have been designated as variants of concern and even variants of significant consequences are known to be more infectious, cause more severe disease, and may have immune evasion property.”

“The distances in the Jammu province are longer and the approach is more difficult due to complex terrains in regions like Doda, Ramban, and Poonch districts, because of this access of sick patients to tertiary care centres may be difficult and such patients reach such centres very late in the disease course,” it said—(KNO)