Covid-19: 88% of Punjab’s Covid victims 40+ age

CHANDIGARH: Over 88% of total Covid-19 deaths in Punjab have occurred in the 40-plus age group, which is a worrying factor as it constitutes over 30% of the state’s population, and who are likely to be the family’s earning members.
Of the total 204 people who have succumbed to the virus till July 13, 160 deaths – over 78% of total – occurred in the last 43 days, making it more than three deaths a day on average. What is more worrying is that a sizeable number of people died within a couple of days after getting admitted to health facilities for treatment.
The state’s death analysis reveals that the highest of 65 people in the age group of 60-69 have so far fallen prey to the virus, followed by 45 deaths in the age group of 50-59. As many as 30 people in the age group of 70-79 lost their lives while the death toll in the 40-49 age group stands at 27. Three deaths have been reported in the age groups of 0-9 and 10-19.
Alarmed by the increase in the number of deaths since June 1, the state government has formed a committee of experts headed by PGIMER-Chandigarh doctor to suggest steps for controlling the fatality rate. Punjab’s fatality rate is equal to the national average of 3%. With just 34 people infected with the virus out of 8,319 losing their lives, Kerala has the lowest fatality rate in the country.
Explaining the reasons for high Covid-19 death rate, Dr KK Talwar, Punjab government’s adviser on health issues, said that majority of victims were suffering from co-morbidity such as end-stage kidney disease and cancer, HIV besides uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure. He further said that people are coming late for treatment. "Even a delay of one day can prove fatal. There have been many cases in which patients died within one-two days of hospitalization," said Dr Talwar. He maintained that experts have been roped in to help in controlling the death rate.
As per the comorbidity analysis of 175 deaths, only in 32 cases patients were not suffering from any other ailment while in 43 cases victims had one chronic health problem. As many as 44 patients had more than two comorbidities while 20 had more than three serious underlying illnesses.
Highest of 55 people have died of Covid-19 in Amritsar, followed by 30 in Ludhiana and 28 in Jalandhar. Sangrur has added 19 deaths to the state’s tally while 12 people have died in Patiala, home district of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.