Ahead of the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the total number of coronavirus cases is inching closer to 20,000. On Wednesday the total tally of positive patients stood at 19,419 as 540 new cases were detected and fifteen more deaths due to Covid-19 were reported from different hospitals.
The local markets, which were thrown open after a brief period of lockdown in Srinagar and other districts, witnessed huge rush on account of Eid celebrations.
The social distancing norms and other guidelines were flouted by common people at many places.
In Jammu division, as the cases were rising constantly, Deputy Commissioner Kathua announced weekend lockdown from Friday evening till Monday morning while complete lockdown was extended in four tehsils of Samba till August 4.
Lockdown also remained enforced across several pockets of Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Local clerics have been roped in by the various district authorities to issue appeals to the common masses to restrict their movement during Eid-ul-Adha and prevent mass gatherings to prevent further spread of Coronavirus in their respective areas.
According to the media bulletin, out of 540 cases 151 cases were detected from Jammu division and 389 from Kashmir division.
Also 15 COVID-19 deaths have been reported; 01 from Jammu division and 14 from Kashmir Division, the bulletin said.
Moreover, 437 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals, 70 from Jammu Division and 367 from Kashmir division.
According to the media bulletin, out of 19419 positive cases, 7749 are Active Positive, 11322 have recovered and 348 have died; 25 in Jammu division and 323 in Kashmir division.
According to the bulletin, of the total 19419 positive cases in J&K 4206 have been reported as travelers while 15213 as others.
The Bulletin further said that out of 615380 test results available, 595961 samples have been tested as negative till July 29, 2020.