<p>While terming the steep increase in coronavirus cases challenging, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday said that the growth rate in Covid-19 positive cases was 8.12 per cent, which is much higher than what it was last year.</p>.<p>"At present we have 13,400 active cases. Last year we had 22,000 positive cases at a peak. In April, there were 77 deaths. Rate of growth in cases is 8.12 per cent. Mortality rate is 1.38% in J&K," Financial Commissioner Health, Atal Duloo, told reporters in Jammu.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/jammu-and-kashmir-hospitals-gasp-for-oxygen-as-covid-19-cases-soar-976854.html" target="_blank">Jammu and Kashmir hospitals gasp for oxygen as Covid-19 cases soar</a></strong></p>.<p>He said the situation was challenging if compared it with last year April.</p>.<p>Duloo, who was flanked by government spokesman Rohit Kansal, said 28 cases of the UK Covid variant and other new strains were reported in Jammu and none from Kashmir.</p>.<p>"We are conducting 40,000 tests a day in J&K UT,” he said, adding that government has framed a five-pillared strategy to deal with the situation</p>
<p>While terming the steep increase in coronavirus cases challenging, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday said that the growth rate in Covid-19 positive cases was 8.12 per cent, which is much higher than what it was last year.</p>.<p>"At present we have 13,400 active cases. Last year we had 22,000 positive cases at a peak. In April, there were 77 deaths. Rate of growth in cases is 8.12 per cent. Mortality rate is 1.38% in J&K," Financial Commissioner Health, Atal Duloo, told reporters in Jammu.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/jammu-and-kashmir-hospitals-gasp-for-oxygen-as-covid-19-cases-soar-976854.html" target="_blank">Jammu and Kashmir hospitals gasp for oxygen as Covid-19 cases soar</a></strong></p>.<p>He said the situation was challenging if compared it with last year April.</p>.<p>Duloo, who was flanked by government spokesman Rohit Kansal, said 28 cases of the UK Covid variant and other new strains were reported in Jammu and none from Kashmir.</p>.<p>"We are conducting 40,000 tests a day in J&K UT,” he said, adding that government has framed a five-pillared strategy to deal with the situation</p>
