STATE TIMES NEWS
New Delhi: The Centre has asked states and Union Territories (UTs) to review, amend or do away with additional COVID-19 restrictions after considering the trend of new cases and positivity rate in their regions, stating sustained downward trend in the nationwide case trajectory.
In a letter to sent to chief secretaries and chief administrators of all states and UTs on Tuesday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the coronavirus pandemic in India is showing a sustained declining trend since January 21.
J&K reports 230 new Covid cases, Ladakh 58
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday 230 new Covid cases, 126 from the Jammu division and 104 from the Valley, thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 451560.
Moreover, 827 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals including 356 from Jammu Division and 471 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin, out of 451560 positive cases, 3683 are Active Positive (1621 in Jammu Division and 2062 in Kashmir Division), 443132 have recovered and 4745 have died; 2323 in Jammu division and 2422 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 22546263 test results available, 451560 samples have tested positive and 22094703 samples have been tested as negative till date. Besides, 70660 COVID tests have been conducted in last 24 hours. Till date 6004757 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 31703 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 3683 in isolation and 443602 in home surveillance. Besides, 5521024 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Meanwhile, Ladakh has reported 58 fresh Covid cases, taking the infection tally to 27,594, officials said.
The number of active cases stands at 523, including 404 in Leh and 119 cases in Kargil, they said.
The Union Territory has recorded 227 Covid-related deaths — 168 in Leh and 59 in Kargil, they said.
No death was reported on Tuesday, officials said.
As many as 57 patients, 34 in Leh and 23 in Kargil, were cured and discharged from hospitals, taking the overall recoveries to 26,844, they said.
Of the 58 new cases, 43 were from Leh and 15 from Kargil, officials said, adding that a total of 1,193 sample reports in Ladakh were found negative.
The average daily cases during last week were 50,476, and 27,409 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. The daily case positivity rate declined to 3.63 per cent on Tuesday.
In earlier months, in view of the high case trajectory, certain states had imposed additional restrictions at their borders and at airports, he said.
While effectively managing the public health challenge of COVID-19, it is equally important that movement of people and economic activities should not be hampered by additional restrictions imposed at state-level points of entries, Bhushan said in the letter. “Presently, as the case trajectory across the nation is showing a sustained downward trend, it will be useful if states/UTs review and amend/do away with the additional restrictions so imposed after considering the trend of new cases, active cases and positivity within the state and UT,” he said.
With the changing epidemiology of the pandemic globally and in India, existing guidelines aimed at minimising the transmission and circulation of the virus have been reviewed and updated. The Union Ministry of Health accordingly revised its guidelines for international arrivals on February 10, he stated.
Bhushan underlined that states and UTs must also continue monitoring the trajectory of cases and spread of infection on a daily basis.
They may also follow the broad five-fold strategy of Test Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour.
“I’m sure that under your continued leadership the state and UT will continue to address the challenge of COVID-19 while minimizing its impact on lives and livelihood of the people,” Bhushan said in the letter.