Like other parts of the country, COVID situation in the Union Territory of J&K is challenging but there is a shortage of neither beds in the hospitals nor oxygen in any health institute.

"Roughly we have more than 6,000 dedicated beds for the Covid patients across J&K but only 807 have been occupied till date. 87 percent of beds are vacant in different hospitals", Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dullo told International Business Times, while giving details about steps taken by the J&K government to fight the Coronavirus, this afternoon.

Dullo said that out of a total of 807 COVID patients admitted in different hospitals only 48 are on ventilators and 534 on oxygen support. "Over 600 ventilators, across the J&K, have been reserved for the Covid patients only", he said and expressed satisfaction only 8 percent of dedicated ventilators have been occupied to date.

Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education Atal Dullo giving details about steps taken by the J&K government to check spread of virus
Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education Atal Dullo giving details about steps taken by the J&K government to check spread of virussocial media

How J&K is tackling COVID?

"As of now, we have 13,400 active cases out of which only 807 are admitted in hospitals. In the month of September 2020, we had 22,000 positive cases at a peak. The rate of growth in positive cases is 12 percent while as mortality rate is 1.38 percent in J&K", he said.

In J&K there are over 2,500 oxygen-supported dedicated beds for Covid patients in different hospitals, out of which only 534 have been occupied to date.

Replying to a query, Dullo said that 28 cases of UK COVID strains and other new strains were reported in Jammu and none from Kashmir. "We are conducting 40,000 tests every day in J&K," he said.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Raghav Langer reviewing  situation at Lakhanpur-the gateway of J&K.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Raghav Langer reviewing situation at Lakhanpur-the gateway of J&K.social media

Step to be taken in next week to fight Coronavirus

  • Three COBAS 6800 machines used for bulk testing to be installed shortly.
  • Oxygen generation plants to be installed in all 36 district and sub-district hospitals across J&K. 23 Oxygen generation plants to be installed by next week.
  • Testing centers set up at Lakhanpur and Samba to ensure 100 testings of all travelers and to trace different variants in J&K.
  • Covid Care Centres with a capacity of over 15,000 beds have been set up to meet any challenge in the future.
  • 50 percent capacity to be maintained in all public transport vehicles. Superintendents of Police (SPs) have been instructed to keep a check and fine on the violators. SOPs to be followed in all places and in all situations.