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Chandigarh
Punjab reported an astonishing 1,704 coronavirus cases within a span of 24 hours, the state’s COVID bulletin showed on Tuesday—the highest spike the state has so far reported—with Ludhiana and Patiala together accounting for more than half of the cases.
Ludhiana reported 483 cases—the highest it has reported yet despite being the most affected of Punjab’s 22 districts since April-May this year. Patiala came second at 338 cases. The two districts, along with Jalandhar (132) and SAS Nagar (103), have been flagged by the Punjab Government as areas of primary concern in a state that has begun to see a significant rise in cases.
Other districts also saw a rise in cases, although none as sharply as Ludhiana and Patiala. All 22 of Punjab’s districts reported new cases—a trend the state has been seeing most of this month. Bathinda (94), Sangrur (52), Amritsar (46), Gurdaspur (18), Ferozepur (34), Moga (33), Hoshiarpur (50), Pathankot (16), Barnala (24), Fatehgarh Sahib (52), Kapurthala (26), Faridkot (46), Tarn Taran (7), Ropar (24), Fazilka (46), SAS Nagar (16), Muktsar (49), and Mansa (15), all reported new cases.
Punjab also reported 35 deaths, the COVID tally showed. With eight deaths, Ludhiana had the highest fatalities. Patiala (4), Amritsar (4), Faridkot (1), Fatehgah Sahib (1), Jalandhar (1), SAS Nagar (3), Muktsar (1), SBS Nagar (3), Ropar (2), Sangrur (4), Tarn Taran (2) and Kapurthala (1) all reported deaths.
Punjab death toll now stands at 898.
Among those who tested positive in Ludhiana on Tuesday were AIG Crime, Ludhiana Range, and nine other policemen. That apart, 88 cases came from flu corner, 70 were contacts of already diagnosed peopl, 37 from OPD, eight health care workers and two pre-operative. Authorities are still tracking down 40 people who remain.
Four men and four women died in Ludhiana from COVID-19, taking the district’s death toll to 264.
Six of the eight fatalities were between 50 and 60 years belonged to Chak Sarvan Nath village, Aman Nagar, Model Town Extension, Vishkarma Colony and Durga Colony. A 27-year-old from Thareke village and a 45-year-old woman from Kot Mangal Singh made up the rest of Ludhiana’s numbers on Tuesday.
Punjab’s alarming rise
Punjab’s cases have risen significantly this month, with the sharpest rise being registered from August 6, when the state first began reporting over 1,000 COVID-19 infections a day. Punjab’s tally now stands at 34,400 cases. About 18,281 cases—about 53 per cent of the state’s total cases—have been registered since the beginning of this month.
What is more alarming, however, is how quickly Punjab’s numbers have risen: in less than a fortnight since August 5 (19,856 cases), the infection tally has risen over 1.5 times to stand at the current 34,400 cases.
Punjab’s death toll has also risen steeply within this period, almost doubling from 491 deaths recorded till August 5.
About 34 per cent of Punjab’s cases are still active. The state government has said it expects the state’s coronavirus cases to peak in September.
The bulletin showed 336 people were on oxygen support in the state, and 37 were critical and on ventilator support.
Ludhiana remains the most affected district in the state. In particular, Ludhiana’s numbers have seen a sharp increase since July 25, when the district began recording infections in triple digits on a daily basis.
The district’s numbers have gone from 2,327 cases on July 25 to 7,577 on August 18—a 325 per cent rise in infections.
Ludhiana’s deaths have also risen sharply during this period, going from 54 on July 25 to 254 on August 18—a 470 per cent rise.
Punjab’s district-wise break-up of infections are as follows: Ludhiana (7577), Jalandhar (4388), Patiala (4135), Amritsar (2869), SAS Nagar (1990), Sangrur (1597), Bathinda (1380), Gurdaspur (1215), Ferozepur (1092), Moga (878), Hoshiarpur (894), Pathankot (786), Barnala (718), Fatehgarh Sahib (703), Kapurthala (649), Faridkot (646), Tarn Taran (578), Ropar (537), Fazilka (523), SBS Nagar (489), Muktsar (460), and Mansa (296).
The state’s death toll stands thus: Ludhiana (264), Jalandhar (106), Patiala (87), Amritsar (115), SAS Nagar (38), Sangrur (60), Bathinda (16), Gurdaspur (30), Ferozepur (17), Moga (10), Hoshiarpur (25), Pathankot (17), Barnala (13), Fatehgarh Sahib (14), Kapurthala (24), Faridkot (4), Tarn Taran (27), Ropar (9), Fazilka (5), SBS Nagar (12) Muktsar (4), and Mansa (1).
