Bhat Yasir
Winters are almost here and there has been an alarming spike in positive cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the erstwhile state of Jammu Kashmir.
Since the past few days, positive cases are being continuously reported in three-digit numbers in the valley, raising concern among the people. The experts have blamed people for their careless behavior towards COVID-19.
It’s a fact that when cases started to dip and a low number of cases started to be reported, public spaces in Kashmir saw an influx of people roaming without face masks. Ironically, the administration also turned a blind eye towards it. At several locations, ‘Manoranjan Melas’ were organized where people gathered and violated COVID-19 SOPs.
Parents were expecting the opening of schools for all classes so their wards go to school again. Although, it doesn’t seem likely since positive cases are on a rise in J&K, especially in the Kashmir valley.
The Kashmiriyat had earlier reported when people violated COVID SOPs at Pattan during the Manoranjan Mela. Experts had also raised concern over it, back then.
Doctors Association Kashmir – DAK President, Dr. Nissar-Ul-Hassan told The Kashmiriyat that “Yes, from the last few days, there has been a sudden rise in the number of COVID-19 cases. However, we don’t see rise in hospitalization and severe cases. The number of deaths haven’t increased.”
“The winters are almost here and we are expecting a rise in Covid-19 cases during the winter because cold conditions favour COVID-19 virus including flu and other diseases,” Dr. Nissar-Ul-Hassan said.
“Humidity is low during the winters and the virus sustains for a long period of time in air,” he added.
Dr. Nissar-Ul-Hassan further told The Kashmiriyat that “Around 50-55% population is still unvaccinated and we don’t have a vaccine for children as of now. They are susceptible, so there is possibility that we will have a ‘winter wave’ and that is why there will be rise in positive cases.”
“Now, the cases have risen in winter which is expected but we will not call it the 3rd wave, we can call it continuation on 2nd wave. There is no indication of a 3rd wave yet,” the DAK President added.
“Vaccine hesitant people will not only risk their own lives but they are also not allowing the pandemic to end. So, if there’s lot of unvaccinated people, we will have more number of waves not only 3rd, 4th or the 5th wave,” he added.
As per the media bulletin on COVID-19 issued by the Government of J&K, 181 Positive cases were reported on 13 November—155 tested positive from Kashmir and 26 from Jammu division.
On 12 November 158 cases were reported in UT, in which 132 were reported from the Kashmir division and 28 in Jammu division.
Similarly, on 11 November, 177 positive cases were reported from J&K—141 from Kashmir and 36 from Jammu.
Lockdown impacts, what next if it again happens?
Riyaz Ahmed Khan sells sweaters for children on a cot outside Kashmir’s famous Sufi shrine- Dastgeer Sahab in Khanyar area of Srinagar. “God has been kind to us from several months now, earlier it was a disaster,” Riyaz states.
Thousands of small business owners, especially the vendors were hard hit by the two waves of covid-19 during which the administration imposed a lockdown in the valley. The restrictions barely saw any movement or work making life very tough for the poorer sections of the society.
Migrant Labour migration crisis hit major cities like Bombay and Delhi in 2020. In Kashmir, however, the crisis was hit harder as the crisis had begun in the preceding year August 05 when Modi-led Government unilaterally abrogated the special status of the region.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the report said that the industries after August suffered a loss of Rs 17,878.18 crore (roughly USD 2.4 billion), while job losses in the valley were just under half a million (497,000) in the first four months after the restrictions were imposed.
For several months, thousands like Riyaz were confined to their houses and when the lockdown eventually started easing down, another lockdown was imposed after Covid 19 hit the globe.
Defunct for several months, many carts were stolen from the Srinagar streets, Riyaz stated. He said the small traders that were overcoming the loses after the 2014 floods were hit immensely by the three lockdowns after 2019.
He said that Kashmir cannot bear the brunt of yet another lockdown which seems inevitable now. “I pray that the small businesses in Kashmir do not have to face it yet again. Our children will starve. Thousands like me will be forced to either beg or consume poison. God protect us all,” he said.