Srinagar April 27: Coronavirus cases continue to spike in Kashmir with 21 fresh cases recorded on Monday. The total number of cases in J&K reached 545, even as the government gave green signal to the opening of private hospitals, labs and clinics.
“Twenty one persons tested positive for the coronavirus in Kashmir on Monday,” said a health official.
Fresh cases continued to come from the worst-affected districts, including Anantnag, which reported six cases on Monday. Baramulla and Shopian registered five cases each. Three more cases were recorded in Bandipora, while Kupwara and Budgam registered one case each.
Authorities concerned though have been able to flatten the CoVID-19 curve in Srinagar to a large extent.
Even as coronavirus cases continue to rise, the authorities here have decided to open the private healthcare sector. “All private hospitals, diagnostics labs, dental clinics and medical shops shall start functioning within three days by following the standard operating procedures (SOP),” read an official communication from the office of the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole.
Pole has directed all the Deputy Commissioners, Director Health Services Kashmir, and owners of private healthcare centres to inform the general public about the decision through social media.
Doctors and other healthcare workers in these private health centres have been asked to wear necessary protection gears and adhere to social distancing norms.
They have also been asked to ensure that patients and visitors are screened well before their entry into the health centre premises. “In case any COVID-19 symptoms are observed he or she shall not be allowed to enter the premises and be referred to Government COVID-19 designated hospital,” read the official communique dated April 22.
However, public health experts have cautioned the government that opening of private hospitals would facilitate inter-district movement of people and prove a recipe for disaster.
“How would private hospitals know who is a coronavirus carrier when Government itself says 80 per cent COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic,” said a public health expert on condition of anonymity.
The expert said only those patients should be allowed to move who have proper referral signed by the Medical Superintendent of the district hospital. “This is the time when we can put a proper referral system in place. Otherwise, every patient with cough and headache will be in Srinagar after a few days,” he said.
According to official data, 13,959 tests have been conducted so far in J&K out of which 13,436 turned to be negative, while 545 reported positive. At least seven people have died in the Union Territory and 137 patients have recovered from the infection.
The government has put a strict ban on all social and religious gatherings.
