Hospitals almost full, Srinagar city yet to come under lockdown for Covid spike

With Covid-designated hospitals in Kashmir getting almost full, the government has decided to increase the bed capacity and provide oxygen supply to them on a regular basis. Rumours were making rounds on Monday that Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir would come under lockdown, especially the Srinagar city. However, on Monday afternoon, the administration refuted such rumours, saying no decision had been taken so far.

In the past one week, Covid positive cases have increased manifold and among the thousands of patients, hundreds are tourists and travellers who have been in direct contact with the hotel and houseboat staff.

Doctors from the Covid-designated hospitals have appealed to people to bring only those patients who have complications as they have almost exhausted their bed capacity.

“We appeal people to treat Covid positive patients in quarantine at homes and only bring those patients who need hospitalization,” one of the senior doctors from Covid-designated Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar told reporters on Monday.

The district administration of Srinagar said that the government has not taken any decision to impose lockdown and appealed people not to bank on rumours.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Muhammad Aijaz Asad told reporters here that they have not received any decision on lockdown in view of spike in Covid-19 cases. “Whenever a decision in this regard would be taken, we as an implementing agency will take necessary steps accordingly,” he was quoted by the local news agency.

Meanwhile, the government has already decided to close down all the educational institutions including universities and colleges for the physical classes till 15 May. Already the administration has closed down all the private coaching institutions and schools due to the spike in Covid cases.