KO File Photo: Abid Bhat
Srinagar: Two people with travel history to the United Kingdom and Italy have tested positive for Covid-19 infection prompting the officials to send their samples to New Delhi for Genome Sequencing.
Nodal Officer for Covid-19 at JLNM, Dr. Bilquees Shah told Kashmir Observer Saturday that two suspected men with travel history to UK were brought to hospital on Saturday with one of them confirmed coronavirus positive.
“One of them was found Covid-19 positive, while his co-traveller tested negative for the infection. Both of them have been brought to JLNM for isolation. It is suspected that they may be containing new strain but we aren’t sure as of now,” she said.
“Their samples have been taken at SKIMS and will be sent to New Delhi for Genome Sequencing to determine if they are infected by new UK strain or not,” she added.
She said that an Italy returned person has also tested Covid-19 positive.
Taking extra precautions, Bilquees said, some of the coronavirus patients at JLNM hospital have either been sent to home for isolation and some to Covid-19 centre Chanpora.
“We can’t take them as normal Covid-19 patients. There’s a guideline that the people with UK strain Covid-19 can’t be kept with other coronavirus patients. These travellers have tested coronavirus positive but whether they are positive for UK strain will only be clear when their reports come from New Delhi,” she said.
She strongly rejected the media reports that the two UK returnees, from Habak and Soura localities, have been found positive for the newly-discovered UK-strain.
Dr. Manhas, ADS State surveillance Officer IDSP Jammu said that samples of two persons in Jammu, one of which was a traveller from UK and another his contact, were found negative for the newly-discovered strain.
“We have ten more people admitted at a Jammu hospital whose tests have been sent to Delhi for Genome Sequencing”, the official said adding “All these tests are being conducted as per the guidelines of central government to avert any exigency.”
J&K Logs 2 More Corona Deaths, 122 Cases
Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir reported on Saturday two more deaths due to coronavirus, while 122 fresh cases of infection, including two United Kingdom (UK) returnees were detected across the Union Territory during the last 24 hours.
Both the victims, officials said, were from Jammu division—a man from Ploura area of the winter capital of J&K and woman from Gandya area of Kathua. With their deaths, the total fatality count since the outbreak of the virus in J&K has reached 1909.
Meanwhile, 122 fresh cases of coronavirus were detected across the Union Territory during the last 24 hours, including two people from Srinagar, who have recently returned from the UK.
Giving a district wise break-up, the officials said Srinagar reported 25, Baramulla 8, Budgam 5, Kupwara 7, Pulwama 6, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 2, Kulgam 3, Jammu 47, Udhampur 5, Doda 5, Kathua 4, Kishtwar 2 and Reasi one new case of Covid-19.
Moreover, they said, 267 more patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals—116 from Jammu Division and 151 from Kashmir Valley.
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