The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday threw open parks and gardens for the public, a decision that has evoked criticism as the Coronavirus cases and fatalities rise in the region.
On Tuesday, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, announced that gardens, parks throughout Jammu and Kashmir would be thrown open for the general public.
He requested the people to wear face masks, use hand sanitizers and maintain social distancing norms both inside and outside these places.
Khan also directed the authorities to penalize those found violating the precautionary measures.
While the parks have been opened as a measure to boost ailing tourism industry, J&K High Court’s Srinagar wing has been closed for two days after CRPF jawans posted there tested positive for Coronavirus.
On Tuesday, 256 new positive cases of Covid -- 74 from Jammu and 182 from Kashmir -- were reported, pushing the total tally in J&K to 8931.
On Tuesday five persons died due to Covid-19 in Kashmir. Of 8,931 positive cases, 3,389 are active, 5,399 have recovered and 143 have died -- 14 in Jammu division and 129 in Kashmir.
