Nagpur: Over 50,00 cases in 3 months, district can’t get ‘careless’

NAGPUR: The district has contributed more than 55,000 Covid cases to Vidarbha’s tally which crossed over one lakh on Monday. In the initial three months, the city had just over 500 cases after first case was detected in March. The situation became alarming from July onwards, with a 10 times jump in cases to 5,000, and subsequently crossed 50,000 early this month.
Increased testing, sudden withdrawal of restrictions over movement and casual approach of people have been attributed as some of the reasons for Nagpur’s burden of Covid-19 cases.
Deputy director of health services Dr Sanjay Jaiswal said instead of looking back we must see ahead. “From here on, all must ensure self-care and control which is very easy. People need to also protect their families by using mask, washing hands and maintaining Covid distancing,” he said.
Cases increased as testing was ramped up, according to district civil surgeon Dr Devendra Paturkar. “Festival season, and some let down in guard by people too were the reasons for surge in cases. The figure may cross 60,000 by the end of third week of September,” he said.
NMC health committee chairman Virendra Kukreja too said that testing has increased resulting in the surge. “Trace, test and treat is the gold standard. Beside testing, the opening of business and movement of migrants contributed to the cases in Nagpur,” he said.
Kukreja further said now the focus is on preventing Covid deaths. “Due to community spread more people will continue to get infected, but it shouldn’t result in large number of deaths. Entire NMC administration is working sincerely to ensure the toll isn’t high,” he said.
IGGMCH deputy medical superintendent (Corona patient care) Dr Sagar Pandey pointed towards multiple factors for increase in city’s caseload. “In the beginning, there was strict restriction on movement but they were suddenly relaxed which made people overconfident. They stopped taking precautions. This carefree attitude is a major reason,” he said.
Another doctor said the city administration has failed miserably. “The sudden lockdown and unlocking helped mutate the virus’s natural chain,” the doctor said.
NGO Together We Can secretary Anasuya Kale Chhabrani too blamed the prevailing situation on lackadaisical approach of people and officials. “No one is ready to behave responsibly in this pandemic,” she said.
According to general and paediatric surgeon Dr Pradeep Arora said the social stigma attached to the infection lead to concealment of cases, resulting in sudden spread.