Covid-19—Cases swell in J&K: 52 dead, 4716 new positive cases
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Union territory on Wednesday witnessed 52 deaths, highest since pandemic due to Covid-19 while 4,716 fresh positive cases highest since pandemic were also reported, taking the number of total active cases in the UT to 39,628 .
With 52 more deaths the death toll in the UT has reached to 2,510 and the active cases continue to increase and the recovery rate decreases with each passing day. 4,716 fresh positive cases reported on Wednesday pushed the tally of positive cases to 196,585. Read more on The Dispatch.
Admin declares 11 areas as Containment Zones in Srinagar
Srinagar: At least 11 areas of Srinagar were on Wednesday declared as Containment Zones in view of the fresh detection of COVID-19 positive cases.
According to the orders issued by the DDMA Srinagar, the areas which have been declared containment zones include Shivpora, Nigeen, Hazratbal, Tailbal, Barbarshah, Zadibal, Umerabad Zainakote, Saidakadal, Qamarwari, Bemina and Eidgah.
The orders issued by the Srinagar DDMA authorities, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reads that in view of the detection of more than twenty and thirty cases in the areas, the respective areas have been declared as containment zones. Read more on The Dispatch.
Online classes out-of-the-way to ‘23 percent’ JK students only
Srinagar: While the authorities had ordered recommence with virtual classes in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases, nearly 23 per cent of students studying in government and private schools of Jammu and Kashmir lack the basic facility of attending online classes.
According to the survey conducted by the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), in Jammu and Kashmir 22.9 per cent of students studying in government and private schools lack access to smartphones. Read more on The Dispatch.
‘Digital illiteracy’ creates hurdle to register for Covid-19 vaccine
Srinagar: Digital illiteracy has come as a hurdle for people in registering for the third phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive in the valley. On April 19 the Union government announced that the third phase of COVID-19 vaccination in India will begin on May 1 and that everyone over the age of 18 will be qualified to receive the vaccine after registering on cowin.gov.in, Aarogya Setu app, and Umang app. However, the tech-heavy process and digital illiteracy is turning a barrier for people in the valley while registering for a life-saving injection. Many people, including street vendors, hawkers told KNO that they are using simple mobile phones, and are struggling to register for the COVID-19 vaccine on the government’s CoWIN website. Read more on The Dispatch.
77-year-old jailed TeH Chairman Ashraf Sehrai dies at GMC hospital
JAMMU, May 05: Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) Chairman Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai died in Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu after developing serious breathing issues on Wednesday.
Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that Sehrai who was shifted from Udhampur jail to GMC Jammu yesterday had developed serious breathing issues and breathed his last this afternoon.
“He had multiple ailments and his condition had deteriorated in Udhampur jail after which he was shifted to GMC Jammu on Tuesday,” the officials said. “Sehrai tested positive for Covid post his death as his samples were taken soon after his admission in the GMC Jammu.” Read more on The Dispatch.
Covid-19 2nd wave Forecast:Peak expected in coming two to three weeks: Experts
SRINAGAR: Experts on Wednesday said that the peak of the second wave of Covid-19 is yet to come in Jammu and Kashmir and it is expected to hit the region in the coming two to three weeks.
Former director SKIMS, Chairman Covid Advisory Committee and renowned Gastroenterologist Dr Mohammed Sultan Khuroo while talking exclusively with—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the peak of the second wave of Covid-19 is expected in the next three weeks, till then cases of Covid-19 will surge further.
He said that the fight against COVID needs to be intensified and it shall take more efforts from the administration and public to control the surge given the pathogen which is more infectious and can evade and cause breakthrough infections.
“Travel discipline to J&K needs to be implemented and all travelers who board a plane or a train/bus to visit/travel J&K must have a prior RT-PCR negative certificate,” Khuroo said. Read more on The Dispatch.
District Shopian set to achieve 100 % target for vaccinating people above 45 in 2 days
Shopian: Shopian becomes the first district in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to administer 96 per cent doses Covid vaccines to the persons above 45 years of age.
A health official from the district said that out of 269,500 total population in the district, 61,870 persons are above 45 years of age.
He said that among 61,870 persons above 45 years of age 59,115 persons have been vaccinated which is 96 percent of the population above 45 in the district.
The official said that more people are being vaccinated every day and in coming two days we are expecting that all above 45 years of age will be vaccinated in the district Read more on The Dispatch.
SC strikes down law granting reservation to Marathas in govt jobs & admissions
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has set aside the Bombay High Court order and struck down the reservation to Marathas in government jobs and admissions in Maharashtra. The verdict was pronounced by a five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan today.
The court held that there were no exceptional circumstances justifying the grant of reservation to Marathas in excess of 50% ceiling limit as a Socially and Economically Backward Class. Read more on The Dispatch.
Ex-Magistrate, among four die due to Covid-19 in Rajouri, Poonch districts
Rajouri: An Executive Magistrate among four persons have lost their lives due to Covid-19 in Rajouri and Poonch districts respectively since Wednesday morning.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that in Poonch a Naib-Tehsildar, who was referred to Jammu from SDH Surankote died due to the virus. “He was posted in Harni Niyabit of Surankote. Read more on The Dispatch.
Government deploys officers for assisting Covid mitigation efforts
Srinagar: Government has on Wednesday deployed five officers, awaiting their adjustment in General Administration Department, as officers on special duty for assisting the administration of Government Medical Colleges/CD Hospitals and SKIMS in Corona Virus mitigation efforts.
Prem Singh has been deployed at Government Medical College, Jammu; Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura; Shabir-ul-Hassan, Government Medical College at Srinagar; Hamida Akhter at CD, Hospital, Kashmir and Rakesh Kumar Gupta at CD, Hospital, Jammu, an order, of which a copy lies with Srinagar-based news agency Global News Service, states. Read more on The Dispatch.
Good to see health workers setting example in reducing vaccine wastage: PM Modi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said it is good to see healthcare workers and nurses set an example in reducing vaccine wastage. Quoting a tweet of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Mr Modi said reducing vaccine wastage is important in strengthening the fight against COVID-19. Read more on The Dispatch.
New Delhi: RBI governor Shaktikanta Das today said that the inflation trajectory for the rest of the year will be shaped by the Covid 19 infections and the localized containment measures. In a virtual address on various social media platforms this morning, Mr. Das said the high frequency food prices data for April 2021 from the department of consumer affairs suggests further softening of prices of cereals and key vegetables. He however said that price pressures in pulses and edible oil still remain. Read more on The Dispatch.
Union Cabinet gives approval to signing of MoU between India & UK on Global Innovation Partnership
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given approval to the signing of MoU between the External Affairs Ministry and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom on Global Innovation Partnership. Read more on The Dispatch.
DRDO continuously engaged in creating robust medical infrastructure
New Delhi: Amid the second wave of corona virus, the Defence Research and Development Organization, DRDO is continuously engaged in creating a robust medical infrastructure and equipment.
DRDO Chairman, Dr G Satheesh Reddy said, the DRDO is setting up several COVID specific hospitals in the various parts of the country to provide better health care facilities to the COVID patients. Read more on The Dispatch.
Govt identifies 581 sites for setting up medical oxygen plants in various states
New Delhi: Government has identified 581 sites for setting up additional Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) medical oxygen plants in various states. In a series of tweets, Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will be the nodal agency for executing civil and electrical work for these plants and will complete them on war footing. Read more on The Dispatch.
