May proves deadliest month, JK records 1625 deaths

Srinagar, May 31: Jammu and Kashmir recorded the deadliest month of the pandemic with 1625 Covid-19 deaths in May this year. The fatalities in the past 31 days accounted for 41.59% of the total deaths reported in J&K so far since March last year.
During this month, the 114359 cases were added to the overall tally with highest single day count ever recorded on May 7 when 5443 infections were confirmed. The month also saw highest daily toll on May 17 when 73 people succumbed to the pathogen, according to the data available with GNS.
With 37 deaths confirmed on the last day of the month, the overall death toll has reached to 3907 and Jammu district tops the list with 771 fatalities followed by Srinagar with 771 deaths, Baramulla 260, Rajouri 184, Budgam 179, Pulwama 169, Anantnag 161, Kathua 132, Kupwara 142, Udhampur 124, Samba 111, Kulgam 102 while remaining districts have fatalities below 100.
At present there are 35095 active positive cases—13061 in Jammu and 22034 in Kashmir.
251463 people have recovered so far—96758 in Jammu and 154705 in Kashmir, it added.
Also, nine confirmed cases of mucormycosis (black fungus) have been reported in the J&K during this month.
On May 24, the government declared Mucormycosis an epidemic under Section 2 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897.
A notification comes a days after the government of India asked all States and UTs to declare Black Fungus as an epidemic under the EDA within the pandemic. The J&K has already reported two Black Fungus deaths, both at Jammu.
According to the notification, all the Government and private health facilities, Medical Colleges are required to follow the guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of Mucormycosis, issued by the MoHFW (Gol)/ICMR/Government of Jammu and Kashmir as amended from time to time and make it mandatory for all these facilities to report suspected and confirmed cases to Health Department through District Level Chief Officers and Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP).
“No person/ institution or organization will spread any Information or material for management of Mucormycosis without prior permission from Director Health Services, Jammu/Kashmir,” the notification reads.
Also, all persons person, institutions and the organisations have been barred from using print, electronic or any other media for Mucormycosis without prior permission from Director Health Service Jammu/ Kashmir.
In case of disobedience, the Direction Health Services, Jammu/ Kashmir has been authorized to constitute a District Committee headed by Chief Medical Officer or the concerned District which will have specialist of internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, GNT and Epidemiologist as members to review any disobeying by the person/ institution or organization.
If proved, any person/ institution or organization shall be punished with offence punishable under section 188 of Indian Penal Code. (GNS)