The first case of the COVID-19 pandemic in India was reported on 30 January 2020, originating from China. Slowly, the pandemic spread to various states and union territories including the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Two suspected cases with high virus load were detected and isolated on 4 March in Government Medical College, Jammu. One of them became the first confirmed positive case on 9 March 2020. Both individuals had a travel history to Iran.[1]
As of 13 June 2021, total number of active cases is 16284; successful recoveries/discharges is 286180 and deaths 4174. Total vaccine doses administered are 36,46,922.[2][3]
On 7 March, primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts were closed down until 31 March after two suspected cases with "high viral load" were reported in Jammu.[4] On 15 March, Shri Mata Vaishnov Devi Shrine Board asked non-resident Indians and foreigners not to visit the temple for 28 days after landing in India.[5] On 18 March, Jammu and Kashmir banned entry of all foreign tourists.[6]
In the last week of May 2020 testing numbers of the J&K were the highest in India at 10,000 tests per million population.[7] On 7 June 2020, districts in the state were classified into three types of containment zones.[8][9] Guidelines related to testing and quarantine protocols during the first wave included:[10]
Categories exempted from the mandatory quarantine protocols included pregnant women, mothers with infants below 1yr; cancer, chronically ill and dialysis patients; children below 10 yrs travelling alone; GoI personnel on duty; Travelers with COVID negative test certificate issued by ICMR approved labs and not older than 48hrs; and CAPF and Armed forces personnel reporting for active duty in the Union Territory, will be sent to their respective formations.[10]
On 5 June, the Government ordered its employees to attend offices on regular basis beginning 6 June. High-risk groups have been advised to take extra precautions or work from home and will not be attending frontline duties or involvement in public dealings.[14] Incremental unlock of the state extended into December 2020.[15]
Following a surge in covid cases in April and May 2021 in the union territory, the government administration imposed a curfew in all the districts till 17 May which was later extended till 24 May. A mass awareness drive has been started by the administration.[16] The UT government has decided to hire retired doctors and final year medical students to deal with shortage of medical staff.[17] Financial incentives have been announced for Healthcare workers including final year medical students, nurses and others. 23 hospitals in the UT have been designated as covid centers. These centres raise the total covid beds in Kashmir division to 1194 beds and in the Jammu division to 511 beds.[18] The pandemic affected the government's move to Srinagar.[19] The second wave in the union territory plateaued and started to dip by the end of May.[20] In June a door to door COVID-19 vaccination drive was conducted in Anantnag.[citation needed]
Main article: COVID-19 vaccine |
On January 1, 2021, the Drug Controller General of India, approved the emergency or conditional use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine AZD1222 (marketed as Covishield).[25] Covishield is developed by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech.[26] It's a viral vector vaccine based on replication-deficient Adenovirus that causes cold in Chimpanzees. It can be stored, transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions (two-eight degrees Celsius/ 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit). It has a shelf-life of at least six months.
On 12 January 2021 first batches of Covishield vaccine was despatched from the Serum Institute of India.[27]
On January 2, 2021, BBV152 (marketed as Covaxin), first indigenous vaccine, developed by Bharat Biotech in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology received approval from the Drug Controller General of India for its emergency or conditional usage.[28]
On 14 January 2021 first batches of Covaxin vaccine was despatched from the Bharat Biotech, albeit it was still in the third phase of testing.[29]
On 19 May 2021, Dr Reddy's Labs received Emergency Use Authorisation for anti-COVID drug 2-DG.[30] On 21 February, 2022, Drugs Controller General of India granted approval to Biological E's COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax, that can be used for children between 12–18 years of age.[31][32]
On 21 October 2021, India completed administering of one billion Covid vaccines in the country.[33]
On 8 January 2022, India crossed 1.5 billion Covid vaccines milestone in the country.[34]
On 19 February 2022, India crossed 1.75 billion Covid vaccines milestone in the country.[35]