Srinagar: Six among the new COVID-19 positive cases reported in Kashmir on Thursday are patients admitted at Bone and Joint Hospital in Srinagar.
The patients include a 47-year-old male from Pampore, Pulwama, a woman from Gundsoo, Budgam, a 60-year-old male from Safapora, Ganderbal, a man from Balhama, Baramulla, and a 45-year-old woman from Hajan, and a 58-year-old man from Gamroo area of the Bandipora district, GNS reported.
Except for a man from Safapora, none have a travel history while all the patients are symptomatic, said officials at the hospital.
A number of doctors told that it was a cause of great concern for all, including healthcare workers, at the hospital.
As soon as the sample reports returned positive, all attendants and other contacts were traced and their samples will be taken in a day or two as per the protocol.
Medical Superintendent of the Kashmir’s lone government orthopedic hospital, Dr. Sohail Sultan, confirmed that six admitted patients have tested positive. However, he said that doctors and other healthcare workers in the hospital are already wearing protective gear. “There is no need to panic as such,” he said.
Asked whether samples of those, who attend their patients or other possible contacts of these positive cases are being taken, he said, “Whatever is to be done would be done.”
He also ruled out any link between the cases that tested positive today with a 55-year-old woman from Sagam, who was admitted to hospital earlier and later tested positive, while being treated at Super Specialty Hospital Shreenbagh, Srinagar. “However, the patients have come from red zone areas and one alos has a travel history.”
Earlier, a 32-year-old man from Alamgari Bazar Srinagar, admitted to SMHS hospital died, while a 35-year-old doctor—Casualty Medical Officer at Super Specialty Hospital Shreenbagh Srinagar tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The 32-year-old man had possibly contracted the disease at Super Specialty hospital while attending his father admitted in the Department of Oncology of the tertiary care hospital.
In all 18 people tested positive in the last 24-hours and three of them were from Jammu. (GNS)
