The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday conducted, for the first time, tested over a 1000 people for the novel coronavirus in a single day.

With the increase in testing, the number of COVID-19 positive cases also spiked as 40 new patients — all from Kashmir — tested positive for the infected on Saturday alone. The government attributed the rise in positive cases to the increase in testing in the region.

These cases have been reported from various districts of Kashmir. Anantnag in South Kashmir topped the list with 21 positive cases today.

The Jammu and Kashmir government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said the total tally stands at 494, with Jammu region recording 57 and Kashmir 437 cases.

Early Saturday morning, a COVID-19 patient died taking the number the deaths in J&K to six. The 72-year-old man of Qazipora village in Tangmarg in Baramulla district died at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Hospital at Bemina. The patient was referred by the Government Medical College Baramulla on April 13.

Jammu and Kashmir had recorded its first death due to Covid-19 on March 25 when a man from Srinagar’s uptown area having travel history died of the viral infection. As the cases continue to rise in the Valley, officials are of the view that lockdown should continue.

“New MHA order allows local authorities to take call per situation. See the COVID map of Srinagar and think. We’ve 5 new cases after break of more than a week. Trust us for all your needs. Local solutions being worked out. Situation calls for more caution,” Shahid Choudhary deputy commissioner, Srinagar, tweeted.