Rise in active cases expected in near future.

SHYAM SOOD
Rajouri May 18:–Despite the declining trend in Covid positive cases during the last two days, reportedly due to Covid Curfew restrictions, the reliable sources in the health department are of the view that it may rise in the future.
The reasons behind the expected rise in positive cases and more deaths due to Coronavirus, could be the lackadaisical attitude of the people towards deadly pandemic, ignorance in following the SOPs/guidelines and reportedly presence of new strains in the district.
A man who returned from the United Kingdom this year was tested positive for Covid-19 and his sample was also sent for genome sequencing.
The reason behind the increasing number of deaths in GMC&AH Rajouri is that the referral of Covid-19 patients to other hospitals in the Union Territory of J&K has been stopped and all the patients, including those suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome, are being treated at Rajouri.
Earlier the family members by putting pressure on the hospital administration and by using their influence, etc were shifting their patients to other hospitals at Jammu & at other places.
With 142 deaths and 3419 active cases Rajouri district continued to be at 2nd position in Jammu province after Jammu district with 862 deaths and 7901 active cases.
In an encouraging development 131 Covid-19 patients were tested negative and declared recovered today while 141 new cases were tested positive and 4 patients, including one from Poonch district died in GMC&AH.
Meanwhile Ch Zulfikar Ali, former Minister, and vice president Apni Party said that daily number of deaths in Rajouri is a cause of concern for all.He alleged 3000 capacity Oxygen Plant was sanctioned for Rajouri District which was expected to cater to need of approximately 150 – 200 patients but couldn’t be made operational.
“Inability of the Health Department has made the people suffer and the deaths have occurred because of poor management and facilities to deal with the virus” he said.
“Unfortunately, only 1 unit with 1000 LPM capacity could be operationalized to cater to the need of 50-60 patients and two other such units with 2000LPM capacity, which can cater 100-130 more patients are still not made functional when the pandemic is at its peak,” he added.
He urged Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to get the two already sanctioned oxygen plants operationalized as early as possible.