Strict restrictions continue in Kashmir; no letup in fresh COVID cases, deaths

Srinagar, May 20 (UNI) Strict restrictions continues even as there was no letup in fresh Coronavirus cases and deaths in the summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, where ‘COVID curfew’ imposed by administration entered day 22 on Thursday.
However, ignoring personal safety, besides appeals by ulmas and religious scholars to adhere to COVID curfew imposed to break the chain, people are still hitting the streets in the valley, where around 7000 violators were fined, 1,258 other arrested and hundreds of vehicles seized during the last nine days. Two private schools were also today sealed for violating COVID guidelines by running community classes in central Kashmir district of Budgam.
Meanwhile, the Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Thursday said that vaccinating children holds the key to avert third Covid-19 wave which is predicted to happen sometime in the fall of this year.
The Union Territory (UT) witnessed another grim day on Wednesday with 62 people, including 29 from Jammu and 23 from Kashmir, losing their lives to Coronavirus. As many as 3969 new positive cases were also reported in the Union Territory, where after drawing flake from the political parties and locals for its sluggish COVID vaccination driver, the administration said that it will start the drive from Thursday on war-footings.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday extended the ‘COVID curfew’ by another week till May 24 in all 20 districts in the Union Territory though essential services were exempted from the lockdown. This was the fourth successive extension of COVID curfew in the valley since April 29. The latest extension came in the backdrop of unabated rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in J&K, particularly the summer capital, Srinagar, which has recorded the major chunk of positive cases during the last over a month.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole earlier this week said that the rate of daily Covid-19 positive patients has stabilised to some extent and it has plunged by 10-12 per cent during the past few days in the valley. However, he said though there are chances that mortality rate may remain the same or increase in the next few days.
Even though heavy rush of people was again witnessed in the morning on the roads, besides outside banks and ATMs, police intervened and sent them back to their homes. Later, streets again wore a deserted look while shops and business establishments were closed in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley. Standalone shops — selling fruits, vegetables, grocery, milk and other dairy products — have been allowed to function between 0600 hrs and 1000 hrs every day amid strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, including ensuring social distancing in Srinagar and other districts in the valley. However, many shops and business establishments were open in some areas in Uptown Srinagar, including Mehjoor Nagar and Ikhrajpora, after the 1000 hrs. All the roads and market places, including Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, remained sealed to prevent movement of people. Shops and businesses established were closed while all the roads were deserted as traffic and people were off the roads in downtown, civil lines, uptown in Srinagar. But, people with emergency or associated with essential services, including doctors and paramedics, were allowed to move on the roads after proper verification at various checkpoints established by police.
Reports of similar restrictions were coming from other parts of the valley, including Sopore, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara in north and Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam in south Kashmir. Shops and business establishment were closed and road wore a deserted look in these districts, where police parties were patrolling their respective areas to ensure strict implementation of the lockdown.
Business and other activities remained crippled in central Kashmir districts of Budgam and Ganderbal, where roads have been closed with barbed wires in most parts to prevent movement of vehicles and people.
On April 29, the Jammu and Kashmir administration imposed curfew in 11 districts to curtail the spread of COVID-19, which was subsequently extended to all the 20 districts in the Union Territory the next day. The curfew that was supposed to end on May 3 was extended in Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla and Jammu till May 6. However, the Deputy Commissioners of the remaining seven districts in the valley extended the lockdown till May 6 separately. The COVID curfew was later extended till May 10 and then till May 17.
The administration last month ordered the closure of all universities, colleges, schools, and coaching centres in the Union Territory till May 15 though teaching and non-teaching staff was asked to attend schools and colleges. But, the J&K administration later allowed teaching and non-teaching staff to stay home in view of a surge in COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir. The closure of the educational institutes was last week extended till May 30.
Teachers, however, are conducting online classes from home in the valley though many students alleged that they were unable to attend these classes due to non-availability of smart phones. The decision to allow teachers to take online classes from their respective homes was taken after many teaching and non teaching staff members of government schools tested positive for the virus in the Union Territory.

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