Covid tightens grip on dist with 400+ cases per lakh

Ludhiana: As the spurt in Covid-19 cases continues unabated in Ludhiana, the number of patients per lakh population has crossed 400-mark in the district, whereas Punjab’s average of cases per lakh is around 173.
Going by the state’s media bulletin issued on Thursday evening, the number of cases per lakh population in the district was 407.4 and that of the state 172.42.
On the parameter of cases per lakh, Ludhiana occupied third position among the districts of the state, while Jalandhar topped the chart with 976.8 cases and Amritsar sat at number two spot with 584.9 cases. Kapurthala district had the lowest 31.2 cases per lakh among all districts of the state.
Meanwhile, an analysis of the data on cases per lakh population ever since the state authorities started mentioning it in the Covid bulletin starting August 13 suggests that there has been a steady rise in the number of cases per lakh, especially in Ludhiana district. While on the evening of August 13, the count of cases per lakh population for Ludhiana was 246.8, in the next seven days later it climbed to 337.7 and in a week’s time, the number swelled by around 70 to settle at the current value.
Reacting to the increase in the number of cases per lakh population in the district, Ludhiana Chapter president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr Sunil Katyala said whether the authorities agree or not, it is community spread. People are getting increasingly infected, pushing the count of cases per lakh population.
“Public should be responsible and they should themselves take precautions. The government should also increase testing and make all-out efforts to strengthen the system more to prevent further spread of the pandemic. Even as there is adequate number of beds for Level 1 and 2 patients, as per my feedback, there is still shortage of Level 3 beds,” said the IMA official.
Even as the civil surgeon was not available for his comments, an officer of the health department said cases per lakh are high as Ludhiana district has touched the peak of Covid-19. Things will improve in the coming days and there are indications that the situation has changed for the better, as is indicated in the percentage of recovery, which is around 75% now, he added.
Date Cases per lakh
For Ludhiana district
August 13 246.8
August 14 258.5
August 15 263.4
August 16 276.0
August 17 284.8
August 18 304.2
August 19 321.7
August 20 337.7
August 21 344.5
August 22 358.6
August 23 368.2
August 24 367.3
August 25 374.3
August 26 393.2
August 27 407.4