Kashmir Valley on Wednesday seemed to be entering into lockdown mode with all the educational institutions, eateries and roadside vendors disappearing from major markets, including in summer capital Srinagar.
Fewer shoppers were seen in Lal Chowk, the business centre of summer capital Srinagar and other commercial areas of the city as major hotels and restaurants, road side eateries, tea stalls and saloons were closed.
Similar reports were received from other urban centres of the Valley where government offices and banks remained operational while private businesses were also open.
Following the widespread scare about the spread of Coronavirus, fewer people and vehicles were seen on the roads in the twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu.
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday suspended Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine yatra in Katra as a precautionary measure in view of the outbreak of coronavirus disease.
“Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra has been closed from today. Operations of All Inter State Buses – Incoming and Outgoing from J&K, banned from today,” said a government spokesman, on Twitter.
“In view of the advisories issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the J&K Government considering the spread of coronavirus, Yatra to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji has been closed from today. This has been done to ensure the safety of the pilgrims and the people at large. The pilgrims are requested not to plan their visit to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji till the situation normalises completely,” said an official handout.
The Jammu and Kashmir admin also suspended inter-state bus service with immediate effect on Wednesday.
A circular issued by Transport Commissioner, J&K, Pradeep Kumar reads: “in order to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir, it is hereby ordered that no interstate bus service shall ply on interstate routes with immediate effect till further orders.
The circular further reads that It is also ordered that buses belonging to Jammu and Kashmir which the presently outside J&K shall not carry any passengers from outside Jammu Kashmir while returning back.
Pertinently, in Jammu, two cases of Coronavirus have surfaced while Kashmir is free of this deadly virus so far. In Ladakh, with the emergence of two new cases, the total number of cases have gone up to 8.
Director SKIMS Dr AG Ahangar Wednesday said that out of 41 samples sent for Coronavirus test from Kashmir, 40 have been found negative only one report is awaited and hopefully that will also turnout negative.
Ahangar, who was flanked with a team of doctors was addressing a press conference here at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura.
He said people don’t need to panic but at the same time take precautionary measures. “We monitored every patient with a travel history and took their samples. A total of 41 samples were taken, 40 are negative while the report of one case is awaited,” he said.
He said that SKIMS is now one of the 19 designated testing centers for carrying out the tests after it received approval from National Institute of Virology.
Dr AG Ahangar said novel Coronavirus can be stopped. “Cover your mouth with handkerchief or tissue while coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. We should refrain from touching our hands with eyes, nose and mouth after sneezing. It is advised to take plenty of hot or lukewarm water,” he said.
He appealed people to refrain from visiting hospitals these days. In response to a question, Dr Ahangar said that all the patients who are being quarantined at SKIMS have travel history and all of them are recovering. “We should desist from spreading rumours but believe in facts only. The fact is that there is no Coronavirus case in Kashmir,” he said.
He said that quarantine has been made mandatory for people returning from the countries affected by Coronavirus, even if they exhibit no symptoms.
He said that over 40 are still under home quarantine. Talking on the sidelines of the press conference, Ahangar said that in a place like Kashmir, when a person returns from abroad, the family members and relatives hoard the home. This needs to change in present circumstances. “We need to take precautions at any cost,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Srinagar, Junaid Mattu on Wednesday requested LG Murmu to suspend Banihal-Srinagar-Baramulla train service.
“Have just requested the Hon’ble LG Shri G. C. Murmu to order the suspension the Banihal-Srinagar-Baramulla train service,” he tweeted.