18 persons tested at GMC Anantnag, all found negative

The samples of 18 patients sent to SKIMS for COVID19 testing from Government Medical College Anantnag have been found negative.

Among them is a chemist and an elderly man. The duo hadneither any travel history nor had come in contact with any positive case.

“The chemist who had developed a few symptoms has testednegative so has the elderly patient who is pneumonic,” said a doctor.

He said this is a positive sign as it indicates thecommunity transmission has not happened to that extent yet.

“In past three weeks samples of eighteen patients who were admitted in either isolation facility or quarantine centers were taken. All of them have tested negative,” Medical Superintendent GMC Anantnag Dr Majeed Mehrab told Greater Kashmir.

He said the suspected cases who were in the isolation or quarantine facility of the hospital have all completed the quarantine period and are home.

“Only a few suspected cases who have tested negative for the virus are still under observation of doctors at the respective quarantine centers,” an official said.

Even as several positive cases of COVID19 have been reported in Pulwama and Shopian districts, none has come to fore from twin districts of Anantnag and Kulgam in south Kashmir so far.

Meanwhile, district administration Anantnag today sent 70persons to home quarantine after successful completion of their 14 days of administrative quarantine.

They include 69 from quarantine centre Pahalgam and 1 from quarantine center Kokernag.

District Magistrate Bashir Ahmad Dar expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made for the quarantined persons.

He said so far the district has remained safe due to wholehearted cooperation of the people in observing complete lockdown and tracing those who had visited COVID19 affected countries.

The district administration has created administrative quarantine facilities for 228 persons while the hospital quarantine facility has been augmented to 220 persons, CMO Anantnag Mukhtar Ahmad said.

It has also equipped the medical staff by providing 570PPEs, 2350 N-95  masks,  37000 triple layer masks, 1200 sanitizers,10050 gloves, 3050 disposable gowns, 6200 Shoe Covers and 200 headcovers for frontline medicals officials.