Over 10,000 labourers arriving in Kashmir tested for Covid-19 from July 14-18: J&K admin

Healthcare workers and family members wearing PPE kits carry the body of a 70-year-old man, who died due to Covid-19, for burial at Narwarah Eidgah in Srinagar. Credits: PTI Photo

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday said it has tested over 10,000 labourers arriving in the Valley for Covid-19 from July 14-18.

A total of 10,581 samples of labourers arriving at Qazigund toll post from other states and UTs were collected for coronavirus testing in the five days, an official spokesman said.

As many as 1,012 samples were collected on July 14, of which only six tested positive, he said.

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The results for the remaining 9,569 of the total 10,581 samples collected are awaited, he added.

The administration was apparently responding to criticism from various quarters as to why thousands of labourers from other parts of the country are being allowed into the Kashmir Valley without being first tested for Covid-19.

There are apprehensions that these labourers are not observing the quarantine guidelines until their test reports are available.

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"As per the official data received in this regard, the samples are being collected from the labourers who are arriving at Jammu and Kashmir from several other states and UTs," the spokesman said.

Giving the break-up, he said 2,227 samples were collected on July 15, 2,099 on July 16, 2,350 on July 17 and 2,893 on July 18.

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