Leh, Nov 22: Amid rising cases of COVID-19 at an alarming rate in the union Territory of Ladakh in recent days, the health authorities in the region Monday sounded an alarm saying that people are not adhering to the precautionary measures even those vaccinated are violating the guidelines which has led to increase in positivity rate.
The region on Monday reported a total of 16 new positive cases while 10 patients were discharged after being treated.
Addressing a news conference amid the rise in COVID-19 cases, Director Health Services Ladakh, Dr. Phuntsog Angchuk said that after the end of second deadly wave of COVID-19 between June and October month, the situation remained under control and during all these months Ladakh hosted lakhs of tourists which is a record compared to previous years
“Even during the tourist arrival phase in the region, the cases were minimal but in the last days of October month and the past two weeks of ensuing month of November, the COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing in Ladakh for many reasons”, he said.
He also said that some main reasons include the lack of ventilation in homes as they (People) contract the virus from their family members and it's happening at the places where people reside in numbers together like hostels.
Dr. Angchuk said that “In the winter season, people in the region usually use heating gadgets and prefer staying together in a single or making use of two rooms only to beat the shivering cold but they must maximize such practice and ensure proper ventilation for a couple of hours to keep the virus away.”
He also said that getting vaccinated does not entitle anyone not to adhere to the precautionary measures and not make use of life-saving things like sanitizer besides throwing away the social distancing measure and gathering in number which is often seen in the region
“People who were fully vaccinated even those with a single shot have died due to the virus and it means everyone including those who have not received either of the jabs to ensure they follow all the necessary precautionary measures to keep the virus away”, the Director said.
He impressed upon everyone that each citizen must follow all the guidelines and protocols to keep the virus away.
Notably, the region between 01 to 22 November has reported a total of 365 COVID-19 positive cases of which the majority of the cases were reported in the Leh district alone.
Officials said that the region as of November 01 had a total of 20962 positive cases which include 17343 in Leh and 3619 in Kargil while 208 positive patients had died of the virus including 150 in Leh and 58 in Kargil.
They said that the active cases were 67 of which 62 in leh and 5 cases in Kargil district on November 01.
About the prevailing status of the virus in the region, the officials said that the region is witnessing an alarming rise in the cases and the total active cases have gone up to 230 of which 219 are in leh and 11 in Kargil as of November 22.
They said that the total cases as of 22 November are 21327 of which 17697 in leh and 3630 in Kargil while 212 patients have died which include 154 in leh and 58 in Kargil.
The officials said that a total of 24 COVID-19 positive patients are in hospital admission and all of these patients are in Leh district alone.
