SRINAGAR: Attributing slight increase in COVID-19 positive cases for the last one week with ‘negligence’ of masses in following COVID-19 appropriate behavior as per protocol, Medical Superintendent, Chest Diseases Hospital, Dr Saleem Tak said the positive cases would continue to rise till norms are ‘flouted’.
Dr Saleem Tak while admitting increase in positive cases said the ‘slight’ though sudden rise is the ‘outcome’ of negligence of people in following COVID-19 appropriate behavior.
He said the pandemic has not completely ended and that the people in order to defeat the virus, which so far has claimed millions of lives world over, must follow the protocol without any laxity.
It is pertinent to mention that the number of positive cases have increased in Jammu and Kashmir for the last one week with 32 reported in the Union Territory on Sunday followed by 27 on Saturday, 22 on Friday, 22 on Thursday and 18 on Wednesday last.
“Yes there is a slight increase in positive cases over the past one week in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and I think it is the result of the negligence by people who think that the infection has ended,” Dr Saleem Tak told ‘Kashmir Images’.
Dr Tak however said the probability of a fourth wave is low as the best defense against any such emergence is high vaccination coverage. He said that people gained strong immunity against COVID-19 during 3rd wave.
“There are nominal chances of 4th wave as almost everyone is vaccinated and that people have gained strong immunity against the virus during 3rd wave consisting of Omicron variant but it is not that Corona-Virus has vanished. It is still present in the community and people need to follow the protocol in letter and spirit,” he added.
He appealed the people to wear face masks, maintain social distance and avoid crowd gathering.
“People should be cautious and use face masks and follow other measures to prevent spread of the virus as we are still in the Corona-Virus phase,” he said.
