Srinagar, Jun 1: A concerning surge of COVID19 cases is sweeping across India, with J&K reporting at least six people positive, the official dashboard of the union health ministry states. The number of positive cases in India crossed the 3758 mark on Sunday, with 28 deaths till date. In J&K, currently, No COVID19 patient is admitted, officials said.
The new variants of COVID19 that are circulating are being reported as fast spreading. With a little over 1000 cases on Wednesday, the number of positives more than tripled and crossed 3700 on Sunday.
In J&K as well, the same pattern has been noted, the cases rising from two to six in just four days. Apart from the six people that have been reported positive at government testing facilities, one person, a doctor said, had been tested and found positive at a private lab. “There may be more positive cases, but we may not have the exact figure given that the tests are available at a number of facilities now,” he said.
Health officials said the number of tests being carried out at GMC Srinagar was adequate, and samples were being taken from sick, symptomatic people in OPD and admitted to wards. However, the official said, there was reluctance in people for COVID19 tests. “Many people are refusing to get tested,” a senior doctor working at GMC Srinagar said.
Experts said the new wave may not cause as many hospitalizations as the earlier COVID19 waves. Quoting a study published in Nature Immunology, Prof Parvaiz Koul, noted influenza expert and former director SKIMS Soura said receiving a prior COVID19 vaccine did not prevent the immune system from producing protective responses to either Delta or Omicron strains.
“Despite a drop in antibodies for mutated parts of the virus, vaccination offers an ongoing protection from severe disease,” he said. He said the current JN.1 variant was highly transmissible but generally caused milder illness compared to Delta variant. He said the previously vaccinated population may not get severe illness due to JN.1 but it could be a concern for vulnerable populations.
In J&K, officials have maintained that the hospitals have been kept ready to admit and isolate cases of COVID19 if there is a need. In addition, the oxygen and testing facilities have also seen an upgrade over the years, the health officials said. Mask, hand-washing, isolation of suspected cases and avoiding crowded places remain the key preventive strategies.
