Ludhiana: For the first time after July, the number of weekly Covid-19 cases in Ludhiana has come down to below 200-mark. This despite the fact that the number of tests done in July was less than half of the recent times.
The latest health department data shows that between January 3 and 9, the number of new cases was 198 in the district. The figure had been on the decline since November-end after the festival season.
An analysis of the data since July 6 last year shows that after reaching the highest value of 2,802 cases between September 13 and 19, the new cases in seven days witnessed a fall to 523 from October 11 to 17 and 325 between October 25 and 31. However, after that, the number increased to 439 between November 1 and 7 and 610 from November 8 to 14 before reaching 696 between November 22 and 28. The figure then started falling and was recorded around 248 between December 27, 2020, and January 2.
According to the latest state media bulletin, in the weekly count, Ludhiana with 198 cases was at second spot in the state. SAS Nagar was at the top with 350 cases and Jalandhar third (141 cases). Tarn Taran had the lowest number of four.
The health department officials said there was an overall improvement in the Covid-19 scenario in the district as well as the state.
An officer said, “Hopefully, things will be better in the coming weeks. We request residents to follow the pandemic rules to check the spread of virus.”
Increase in testing
The daily tests in July were between 373 and 1,163. After July 6, the weekly case count was between 297 (on July 12) and 1,109 (from July 27 to August 2). As the number of daily tests ranged from 640 to 4,344, the weekly cases were between 1,671 (in seven days from August 16) and 2,296 (in seven days from August 23).
In September, the daily testing was between 2,900 and 5,636, and the weekly case count between 1,007 (in the week from October 3) and 2,802 (in seven days from September 19). While the tests per day mostly remained between 2,000 and 3,000 in October, November and December, the case figure in each month witnessed a fall.