Covid-19: Community spread is a reality in Kmr now, we have to accept it, live with it, says Director SKIMS

Srinagar : As Jammu and Kashmir witnesses highest ever spike in covid cases in past 24 hours with over 440 cases including pregnant women and doctors tested positive for the virus, Director Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) soura, Dr AG Ahanger Sunday disclosed that community spread is a reality in Kashmir and people have to accept it.

In an exclusive interview with news agency KINS, Dr Ahanger said that Kashmir is facing a community spread of Covid-19 for sure. “This is a reality and we have to accept it and learn to live with it,” the top medico said, after J&K witnessed the highest ever spike in Covid positive cases since the pandemic outbreak in the UT.

Asked whether the community spread is going to affect more people in the days ahead, he said obviously more people will get exposed to the virus due to the community spread. “What we need to do is to take preventive measures already in public domain put by the government and health experts of Kashmir,” he said.

Dr Ahanger said that people shouldn’t panic and instead get ready to fight the pandemic. “We have to take precautions to minimize the effect of community spread. Guidelines already in public domain need to be followed in spirit,” he said and reiterated that “we have to learn to live with the virus and at the same time play our bit to minimize its spread.”

To a query whether relaxations in lockdown will result in more positive cases, Director SKIMS said that the number of cases will rise but at the same time “precautions need to be followed rigorously .”

“Those who have herd immunity will be able to fight the pandemic once they get affected. People with weak immunity can’t fight the virus and will suffer. So it’s time to boost your immunity by taking the diet used to make the immunity stronger,” Dr Ahanger said.

On the recovery rate of the patients in Kashmir, he said that it can accurately be analysed once the entire population is tested for the virus. Replying to a query that doctors too were getting infected with the virus, the Director SKIMS said that if somebody doesn’t take precautions and they would obviously fall prey to the virus. “Once preventive measures are taken properly and the gear is used, I don’t think there is any scope of getting infected,” Dr Ahanger said. He, however, said that doctors getting infected with the Covid-19 is a “professional hazard.”

Pertinently, Covid-19 has widened its ambit in J&K and has recorded 40 deaths besides over 3500 people have been affected with the virus so far. What has added more to the worry is a large number of pregnant women are fast falling prey to this deadly pandemic.(KINS)