Jammu Kashmir witnesses sharp rise in Covid cases, 23 Omicron infections so far

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a sharp rise in the number of Covid positive cases. The union territory has crossed the mark of 1695 for the first time since June 2021. The Kashmir division reported 883 cases while Jammu reported 812 positive cases. 

Srinagar city saw the maximum number of positive cases (320). It was followed by Baramulla district in North Kashmir with 250 positive cases. The doctors in the Valley say that the number will increase further in the coming days. Health department has canceled all the leaves and winter holidays of health workers across the union territory. 

All the government-run hospitals have been kept ready for any eventuality. Although doctors say the cases are increasing, the hospitalization of the patients has still not crossed the danger mark. 
 
"Of late, we have seen there is an exponential rise in the covid cases in the union territory, the numbers used to be less than 200 a week back and they grew exponentially to reach 1700 cases a day. We are seeing a huge surge in cases and Omicron has been detected as well. The samples were taken on 20 December and it's been quite some time since then, so we are pretty confident that the Omicron variant must already be in the community and it is leading to such a huge surge in the number of cases. We are seeing the surge in cases but we are not witnessing too many hospital admissions. They are the same or slightly higher and nothing in comparison to the first and second wave. We have to take precautionary measures and follow Covid protocol behaviour to get things under control," said Dr Naveed Nazir Shah, HOD, Chest Disease Hospital, Srinagar. 

Omicron variant has been detected in the union territory. Around 23 cases have been found in just two days. The doctors believe that it has already spread across the Valley as the samples for those who tested positive for Omicron were taken on December 20. Although the doctors believe that it's a milder variant, it spreads rapidly. The doctors say if the spread continues, healthcare facilities in the union territory would be burdened further.

"The tertiary and secondary hospitals and even the PHC's have been upgraded. The healthcare system is all ready to deal with any eventuality. The Omicron is definitely milder as far as we have seen it in various countries. It causes a milder form of disease and hospitalisation requirement is less as compared to Delta variant but infectivity of the virus is high. So we cannot take it lightly although it's highly infectious and nobody can escape the Covid virus but we have tried to limit the number of cases so that hospitalisation numbers are limited," said Dr Naveed Nazir Shah, HOD, Chest Disease Hospital, Srinagar. 

With rising number of cases, The administration has sprung into action and formed 15 teams in every district to make sure that people are following all the Covid-related protocols. These volunteers are checking cars and vehicles and asking people to wear masks and maintain social distance.