Five fresh deaths, all from Kashmir Valley, were reported during the past 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), taking the coronavirus toll to 236 in the Union Territory.
With 441 new positive cases, the Covid count reached 13,198.
Even as J&K continued to witness a surge in COVID cases, for the first time, the number of patients recovered was higher than those who tested positive on a single day.
Patients, numbering 607, were cured and discharged from different hospitals in J&K on Saturday.
As per the official bulletin issued on Friday evening, 441 new cases were reported, 43 from the Jammu division and 398 from the Kashmir division.
A total of 607 more coronavirus patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, 44 from the Jammu division and 563 from Kashmir Valley. For the first time, J&K has recorded such a high number of patients recovering in a single day.
Out of the 13,198 positive cases, 5,797 were active positive, 7,165 recoveries and 236 deaths, 18 in the Jammu division and 218 in Kashmir.
The official bulletin further said that out of the 49,8007 test results available, 48,4809 samples had tested negative till July 18. Of the total 13,198 positive cases in J&K, 3,202 were reported as travellers, while 9,996 were others. The highest-ever 124 positive cases were reported from Srinagar district, followed by 63 in Baramulla. Jammu district topped in the Jammu division with 15 cases recorded on Saturday.
Due to the surge in cases, the district administration of Samba imposed a complete lockdown in Vijaypur tehsil from July 19 to 24. The order in this regard was issued by Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Rohit Khajuria.
Meanwhile, After a fresh surge in positive cases and deaths due to Covid-19 in the Union Territory (UT), the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Government is bringing back a number of coronavirus-related restrictions in an attempt to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
It has also decided to take legal action against road travellers if they skip the compulsory registration for Covid-19 sampling while moving from one division to another or entering J&K from outside.
In the current month alone, over 5,700 positive cases and 135 deaths have been reported so far. J&K has recorded a total of 13,198 positive cases and 236 deaths till date.
Indu Kanwal Chib, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, has announced a number of restrictions in view of the resurgence of cases. Curbs have also been announced on inter-district travel.
She has ordered that all markets in the district would open at 11 am and close at 5 pm from July 20 in view of the spike in adjacent districts. “More so markets shall stay closed every Saturday and Sunday, starting next week,” she said.
The Samba district administration has also decided to keep all shops, except essential ones, closed on every Sunday starting from July 19. A complete lockdown has been imposed in Vijaypur tehsil following the spike in cases.
Similar restrictions have already been imposed in Rajouri district where a major spike in cases has been reported in the last fortnight. The district administration has reimposed lockdown in certain areas, curbing unnecessary movement of people. It has, however, decided to open chemist shops in a regulated odd-even manner.
The Udhampur district administration has imposed restrictions on the movement of day picnickers to famous hill resort, Patnitop. People with confirmed hotel booking would only be allowed to visit Patnitop.
In Kashmir Valley, the government has already reimposed lock-down in Srinagar district which has become the major hotspot in the UT. Central Kashmir’s Budgam district administration has imposed fresh restrictions for five days.
