District saw 80% deaths, 72% +ve cases in July

Nagpur: July ended on a critical note for the district, with 80% of the Covid deaths as yet and 72% of positive cases registered in these 31 days. Medical experts say it is a sign of community transmission.
On Friday, eight Covid-19 patients died, taking the number of deaths to 126.
The district had registered the first positive case on March 11. There were no deaths till end of March. April had two deaths followed by nine in May and 14 in June. Thus, there were 25 deaths (19.84%) in 112 days between March 11 and June 30 while there were 101 deaths (80.16%) in July.
The mortality rate of the district was well under control at 1.66% at the end of June. Now, it is 2.33%, which is higher than the national rate (2.18%). The rate is lesser than the state (3.55%) and world (3.94%).
Of the 126 deaths, 76 were from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) limits, 20 from Nagpur Rural, and 30 from other districts and states who tested positive and died in hospitals here.
Similarly, the number of positive cases is on a steep rise. On Friday, 258 persons tested positive taking the district’s tally to 5,392. March had seen 16 cases followed by 122 in April, 403 in May and 964 in June for a total of 1,505 (27.91%). In July, there were 3,887 cases (72.08%).
The district’s positivity rate is also on the rise. The number of samples tested is 79,600 for a positivity rate of 6.77%. However, it is lower than state (19.81%).
Consultant physician and intensivist Dr Nikhil Balankhe told TOI, “Rise in cases was expected in July but not to such a great extent. It is most likely community transmission. The chances of further surge in cases in August cannot be ruled out. Mostly likely we can expect peak of Covid-19 in August where there will be herd immunity. Such high rate is the result of violations of Covid-19 guidelines.”
Dr Balankhe added all should comply with basic guidelines of Covid distancing, wearing masks, going out only for essential works etc to control the high rates. “We are in a critical situation. People should also report at earlier stage of symptoms to avoid deaths as well as containing further spread,” he said.
High number of cases in July also led to some chaos in regulation of positive patients. Due to lack of preparedness, the admission of positive patients in Covid Care Centres (CCC) or hospitals was delayed by 2-5 days. Another example was, the administration first reduced 14-day period of quarantine of high-risk contacts who tested negative to 10 days, and then directly to home quarantine just a day later.
On July 27, the administration went on to implement home isolation in a hush-hush manner.
Divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar and municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe had started to concentrate more on increasing testing to control deaths. All Influenza Like Illness (ILI) patients visiting NMC health centres are being tested for Covid-19. Special camps have been organized daily for testing of high-risk persons in non-containment zones.
A centralized desk for screening and regulation of positive patients too has been started but is not yet up to the mark. Four CCCs have been developed for taking care of asymptomatic patients who do not have home isolation facilities, and reduce load on Dedicated Covid Hospitals.
Guardian minister Nitin Raut on Friday announced setting up of a help desk in all 38 wards soon in association with NGOs.