By Sheikh Qayoom

Jammu, Apr 5 (IANS): Authorities on Sunday decided to hand over the body of the 100-year old man to his family after his test report for COVID-19 was received as negative in J&K's Udhampur district.

A 100-year old man and his brother were shifted to quarantine after reports that they had come into contact with a positive case in Magheni village of Udhampur district.

Authorities said the two were shifted to the best quarantine facility in Udhampur where the 100-year old man passed away yesterday.

Piyush Sangla, district magistrate said the body of the deceased was shifted to district hospital Udhampur and kept there till the test report was received according to the protocol specified for such incidents.

"Negative test report was received today and the body is being handed over to the family for last rites," hospital officials said.

There has been an alarming spurt in COVID-19 positive cases in J&K yesterday as 19 tested positive in a single day raising the total number to 94.

Four out of these have recovered completely while two have died. The number of active COVID-19 cases in J&K is 88 out of which 70 are in Kashmir division and 18 in Jammu division.