Abrar A. Mattoo
In a sigh of relief, no Covid-19 related death was recorded in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, 24 July 2021.
According to the data provided by the Department of Information and Public Relations, Jammu-and-Kashmir, it was revealed that the Union territory witnessed no covid-19 related fatality on 24 July. Thus far, 4374 Covid-19 related deaths have been recorded in Jammu and Kashmir ever since the pandemic began in March last year.
Additionally, the covid-19 cases have also decreased according to the data. The caseload has decreased from a record high of 5443 on May 7, 2021, to only 88 cases in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, 24 July. There are only 1317 active cases in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir at the moment — 719 in Kashmir, and 528 in the Jammu region.
Previously, the union territory saw its grimmest day on May 17, 2021, when a total of 73 deaths were recorded in a single day. At 1.37%, the death ratio of the union territory has been comparatively less deadly than other states and union territories of the Indian Union.
However, compared to the Jammu region, the Kashmir region has been slightly battered by the Coronavirus. Out of 320491 cumulative cases in Jammu and Kashmir, 199053 have been recorded from the Kashmir region only. Similarly, the Kashmir region has witnessed 2236 covid-19 related deaths thus far, while Jammu has recorded a sum total of 2138 covid-19 related deaths.
Assertively, Kashmir’s relatively deadly beating at the hands of Covid-19 can be attributed to a comparatively large population of the Kashmir region, and the population density of the Srinagar city — a major contributor to the UT’s caseload.
“The decreasing covid-19 cases is a positive sign. As individuals who have been analyzing the data for the past one and a half years, we have been looking forward to this time. However, it should not be an inspiration for us to lower our guard. The Virus is still lurking,” Added Baba Abid Muslim, a GIS engineer from Srinagar who works on Covid-19 mapping in Jammu and Kashmir.
Though the experts suggest that the worst may be behind us, but Covid-19 may remain for a long time now, therefore suggest that SOP’s and covid-19 appropriate behavior should be followed in letter and spirit.
“Triumphantly, the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has vaccinated 99.30% of its above 45 population and may soon cover all the adult population of the Union Territory, but nonetheless, the vaccine must be treated as a mere shield against Covid-19, not a one-time solution. You can still get Covid-19 if you have vaccinated yourself, and be a danger to others and your own self,” said Dr. Azan Malik at SMHS hospital, Srinagar.
