J&K imposes lockdown, Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid closes for prayers
According to the official information, 3,023 optimistic circumstances had been detected prior to now 24 hours within the Union Territory (UT), which included 951 circumstances from Srinagar and 499 from Jammu
The J&K authorities determined to impose a three-day lockdown in 11 of the 20 districts on Wednesday, because the variety of COVID-19 circumstances has seen a significant spike this month. The Kashmir valley’s historic Jamia Masjid was additionally closed for congregational prayers.
According to the official information, 3,023 optimistic circumstances had been detected prior to now 24 hours within the Union Territory (UT), which included 951 circumstances from Srinagar and 499 from Jammu.
“30 people were declared dead in the hospitals due to the infection, including 18 from the Kashmir valley and 12 from the Jammu region,” the official mentioned.
Wednesday’s toll was the very best for the reason that pandemic broke out in March final yr. April noticed a steep rise within the variety of deaths. While 156 individuals died and over 37,000 circumstances had been reported in April, an enormous bounce from slightly below 2,000 optimistic circumstances and fewer than 50 deaths had been reported in March.
The J&K administration determined to impose a lockdown in 11 districts from Thursday night to Monday morning, to flatten the steep curve.
DRDO to arrange 2 hospitals
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will even arrange two 500-bed COVID hospitals, one in Jammu and one other in Srinagar.
An official mentioned J&K Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam was on Wednesday apprised of “a consistent surge in patient-load over the past few days”.
An official spokesman mentioned Mr. Subrahmanyam was warned that the continuation of this upward development could result in a scarcity of COVID beds.
The DRDO-supported hospitals might be outfitted with isolation beds having oxygen help and 125 totally outfitted ICU beds, officers mentioned.
Officials mentioned there was no oxygen scarcity until date in any of the hospitals within the Union Territory (UT).
The Jamia Masjid has stopped the five-time congregational prayers, within the wake of the rising circumstances.
A spokesman of the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid (AAJ), the physique that runs the affairs of the mosque, mentioned all congregational prayers have been stopped as Section 144 has come into impact.
“In view of the fast unfold of COVID-19, though all SOPs had been being strictly adhered to throughout prayers, the AAJ determined to droop all congregational prayers. Only ‘azaan’ (name for prayers) might be organised,” the spokesman said.
J&K Wakaf Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mufti Muhammad Farid-ud-Din has also made an appeal to the imams (priests) of mosques and shrines affiliated with the board “to allow solely minimal variety of individuals and devotees for prayer”.
“I request individuals to keep away from assembling in massive numbers throughout prayer instances and play a accountable position in containment of virus unfold. He requested individuals to wish at residence on this lethal pandemic,” he mentioned.