CHANDIGARH: After showing some signs of improvement, the infection rate of Covid-19 in Punjab is hovering over the crucial threshold of one, indicating at virus again picking up the pace.
In recent days, Punjab has witnessed a resurgence of cases. The state health department data revealed that 3,292 cases have surfaced in the last 13 days, 253 cases a day on an average. In the last six days alone, 1,834 cases and 41 deaths have been reported.
According to the calculations done by Prof Sitabhra Sinha of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai, the estimated R-value — reproduction number at which Covid-19 or any other infection spreads — has gone up from 0.91 +/- 0.01 recorded on January 29 to 1.04+/- 0.01 on February 17.
The value reflects the average number of people one Covid infected patient will pass the disease on to. Punjab’s current R-value of 1.04 implies that every 100 people who are infected will on average pass on the infection to about 104 people. If the current trend continues to prevail in the coming days, the rate of infection will further pick the pace.
The latest surge in cases has been attributed to people lowering their guards and re-opening of schools. People violating the laid down guidelines — maintaining social distancing and wearing mask — has become a common sight these days.
Even as there has been a surge in the caseload, many districts of the state have been found wanting in contact tracing, a key measure to containing the spread of the virus. It refers to identifying close contacts and people who came in contact with infected people.
Though the state’s overall tracing average stands at 12.7 contacts per case, as many as 13 districts traced contacts less than the state’s average between February 9 to February 17. Of 13 districts, Muktsar (3.5), Pathankot (4) and Kapurthala (4.3), Amritsar (8), Ludhiana (8.6) and Sangrur (8.7) failed to trace the advisable number of 10 contacts per case.
Punjab Covid-19 nodal officer Dr Rajesh Bhaskar said the health department is regularly monitoring the performance of all the districts and those not tracing enough contacts are asked to take corrective steps.
Worse when it comes to vaccination
Not satisfied with the low response to the ongoing vaccination drive, the central government has again asked Punjab to make efforts for improving the coverage. With about 37% of the health workers taking jabs, Punjab is among the worst-performing states in the country. During a meeting held on Friday, the state health officials appraised the health ministry about measure being taken to improve the coverage.