‘No evidence of mutated virus in Kashmir thus far’
Srinagar: Valley’s leading Pulmonologist and HoD Chest Diseases Hospital, Dr Naveed Nazir Shah, Tuesday claimed that there is no evidence of ‘mutated strain’ here as no one was found positive for new COVID variants in Kashmir Valley so far.
Dr Shah also said the vaccination reduces chances of morbidity or mortality but there is no guarantee that it is actually going to be cent-percent effective.
He warned that number of COVID-19 cases may increase manifold in case the SOPs like wearing face masks and maintaining social distance are not adhered to.
“There is no evidence of mutated virus in Kashmir so far as sampling is concerned. No one was tested positive for new variants. As far as vaccination is concerned, there is no surety that same is going to be cent-percent effective,” Dr Shah told reporters here.
He also said that patients with severe COVID symptoms, comorbidities or those who need oxygen are being admitted in hospitals while those who test positive for COVID-19 in random testing, are advised self-isolation.
“COVID-19 is not going anywhere; it will be with us, hence SOPs are necessary to follow. We don’t know whether vaccines work or not. If virus goes mutant, we don’t know whether vaccine will work or not,” he added.
He advised the people to follow SOPs properly so as to avoid contracting the virus, which he said will be there forever. He said people need to avoid gatherings — be it religious, social or recreational — to save themselves from becoming the victim of the deadly virus.
