Srinagar, Apr 25 (UNI) In the biggest single-day spike, 40 people were tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday in Kashmir valley, taking the total number of infected people to 494 in the Union Territory of J&K.

With this, as many as 140 patients, including 138 from Kashmir and two from Jammu, were tested positive for the infection this week so far in J&K.

Restrictions on movement and assembly of people to curtail the spread of Coronavirus were further intensified as the holy month of Ramzan commenced from Saturday in Kashmir, where authorities have taken serious note of lockdown violators.

An official on Saturday said that 40 more people tested positive for Coronavirus in Kashmir division while there was no new case reported from Jammu. “Srinagar recorded five new COVID-19 cases on Saturday after a break of over a week,” he said, adding the other infected people are from Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara and Shopian.

With this, he said the total number of infected persons has risen to 494. “Out of 494 positive cases, 437 are in Kashmir and 57 are in Jammu,” he said, adding the infection claimed one more life today, taking to death toll to six in the UT.

J&K administration spokesperson Rohit Kansal said J&K finally broke the 1000 test barrier — 1071 samples tested in the last 24 hours. “But that also means more positives- so 40 new cases today- all from Kashmir. Total positive cases now 494. Jammu-57 Kashmir-437. An unfortunate death too; total deaths now 6,” he twitted.

Bandipora is the worst COVID-19 hit district in the Union Territory of J&K with 115 positive cases and one death. Of these, over 36 per cent of positive cases have been reported from Dangerpora in Bandipora, prompting authorities to put about 150 people in hospital and administrative quarantine. The rest of the people from Dangerpora have been put in home quarantine.

Officials said that 80 Red Zones were identified in Kashmir Division and that such areas will remain red zones up to 42 days, unless no new positive case of COVID-19 is detected. “If any new case is detected in these areas, then from that date, the area will again remain a red zone for another 42 days,” they added.

One hundred people, including 98 from Kashmir and two from Jammu, tested positive for Coronavirus in the first five days of this week. As many as 118 people, including 111 from Kashmir and seven from Jammu, were tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Meanwhile, 138 people, mostly from Kashmir, were tested positive for COVID-19 in J&K between April 6 and April 12. Thirty-three new positive cases, including 28 from Kashmir and three from Jammu, were reported on April 4 and April 5, making it one of the highest jumps in the COVID-19 infected persons in J&K.

A 70-year-old man, a resident of Baramulla, on Saturday died due to Coronavirus in Kashmir valley, taking the death toll in J&K to six.

J&K recorded first death due to COVID-19 on March 25, when a 65-year-old man from Hyderpora died due to the infection at Chest Disease Hospital. Then, on March 29, a 50-year-old man, a resident of Tangmarg, passed away at CD hospital.

Earlier this month, a 54-year-old Bandipora resident, who was tested positive for the infection, died at SMHS hospital. Later on April 8, a 61-year-old woman from Udhampur died at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu. A 70-year-old patient died on April 17 due to Coronavirus in Kashmir valley.
UNI