Kashmir Fights Rising Covid 19 Cases, All Districts Except One Declared Red Zone

With an increasing number of coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir, all districts in Kashmir except Bandipora has been declared as a red zone.

Representative image (Getty Image)

New Delhi: J&K continues to be in the grip of a Covid-19 boom with positive cases crossing the 8000 mark on Friday with 125 deaths. The alarming situation has forced authorities to impose restrictions in many areas, while the country is moving towards unlocking. J&K government has put all the districts of Kashmir excluding Bandipora in the red zones category in view of a spike in covid cases besides Ramban district of Jammu division, which has been declared as a red zone. The new order was passed after a review of the covid situation by Chief Secretary B.V.R Subrahmanyam. The districts have been  reclassified as red-zones, orange zones and green zones for the implementation of the unlock-2 from July 4. Following the review, all districts of Kashmir Valley have been classified as red zones excluding Bandipora which is in Orange. While in Jammu division only one district - Ramban, continues to be categorised as red-zone. The districts that fall in the red zone due to the high concentration of coronavirus cases include Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Kupwara, and Baramulla. Similarly, Kathua, Samba, Reasi, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu have been classified as orange zones. While Lakhanpur area has been classified as a containment zone (red-zone) on the Jammu-Pathankot highway with a 500 meter buffer. Two districts of Chenab Valley including Doda and Kishtwar are only districts to be classified as green zones. In the Jammu division, the Ramban district remains in the red zone. In accordance with the guidelines of the Home Ministry schools, colleges and universities will remain closed in the state. Other areas that attract large crowds such as clubs, cinema halls, gymnasia, swimming pools, parks, spas, bars, auditoriums, and assembly halls will remain shut. The state has allowed hotels to run in full capacity but restaurants will function in 50 percent strength.

This classification of districts will be reviewed periodically by the Government. HOTELS ALLOWED TO OPEN AT FULL CAPACITY

The Government has ordered that the religious places will continue to remain closed till further orders. Restaurants can also operate for dining up to 50 percent cap; hotels can open at full capacity, intra-district taxis, maxi-cabs permitted in the entire J&K.The government has imposed curfew from 10 PM to 5 AM, and no inter-state or inter-province movement is permitted without permission. All cinema halls, gymnasium, swimming pools, entertainment, parks, spas, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will remain closed. All type of gathering like social, political, sports, entertainment, academics, cultural, religious functions and religious places of workshops will also be closed for public till further orders. No movement of individuals for all non-essential activities during night curfew time is allowed. Persons above 65 years of age, pregnant women and children below 10 years-of-age will stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements or for health purposes. In red zones, 50 percent shops will be allowed to open in markets, no parking allowed on the road in bazaars, and people have been appealed to follow social distancing. Sports activities permitted without spectators in urban areas, only 50 percent taxis, maxi-cabs and cab-aggregators in a district are to be allowed to play on a given day, the arrangements for will be decided by the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district. Complete prohibition on movement of individuals on inter-district from green-orange zones on one side and red districts on the other, between two red districts, and crossing of red-districts. Inter-district public passenger transport vehicles will be run by the J&K State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) with up to 2/3rd seating capacity for buses and upto 50 percent seating capacity for mini-buses on routes to be notified by the transport department.