Nagpur: Among the 3,526 Covid-19 deaths in the district, 2,660 (75.44%) were in the age group of 51 years and above. Despite this age group being vulnerable to the disease, there are no restrictions on movement in the list of decisions taken a day ago. The Central government too is yet to provide vaccines despite the launch 39 days ago.
According to the state’s public health department’s data, 1,957 (75.91%) deceased were from the 51-plus age group out of the total fatalities (2,579) between March 11 and February 19. The district had witnessed the peak of the pandemic for six weeks in August and September. The percentage of this group reduced to 69.52% in October and 67.43% in November.
There was a decline in the number of positive cases from December till the first week of February. The ratio of deaths in the 51-plus age group increased from December and is on the rise.
Among the 160 deaths, 129 (80.62%) were from this group in December. Similarly, 114 (84.44%) of 135 fatalities were from this particular group in January and 50 (86.21%) out of the total 58 in 19 days of February.
The number of deceased are residents of the city and rural areas of the district. The list does not include deceased from other districts or states who died in hospitals here.
The district had registered 1,41,782 positive cases from March 11 to February 19 of which 1,13,092 were from the city, 27,770 from rural for a total of 1,40,862 from the district and 920 from other districts and states. The state’s public health department could not get the age record of 397 patients.
Among the 1,41,385 positive cases, 43,031 (30.44%) were from the 51-plus age group and second highest among four age groups. But when it came to deaths, this group contributed 75.44%. The figures clearly indicate that the fatality rate (deaths against cases) is very high in this group.
The highest 54,855 (38.8%) cases were from the 31-50 age group. In the age group of 16-30, there were 34,602 (24.47%) cases and 8,897 (6.29%) from the 0-15 age bracket.
Sadly, the ratio of the 51-plus age group is on the rise in the total number of positive cases in the last three months. From March 11 to November, 32,442 (29.1%) out of the total 1,11,525 positive cases were from this particular group. It increased to 34.95% (4,176 out of 11,950) in December last year, 35.67% (3,727 out of 10,448) in January and 36% (2,686 out of 7,462) in February.
“The case fatality rate in the 51-plus age group is high mainly due to late detection and treatment. Majority of them contract the disease from the other age groups in the family and hesitate to get tested for Covid. Comorbidities are also high in this age group,” said infectious diseases specialist Dr Nitin Shinde.
Activist Narayan Ahuja said the government should have included the 51-plus age group in the vaccination programme since its rollout. “There should be no more delay in vaccination this group and even those below 50 years with comorbidities,” he said.
During total lockdown, the government had imposed restrictions on public movement for those above the age of 60 years for non-emergency work. Guardian minister Nitin Raut announced various restrictions on Monday following spike in cases and threat of a second wave. But there was no restrictions or measures for this particular group.
The cases in the 16-30 and 31-50 age groups have declined in the last three months.
There is rise in positive cases in the age group of 0-15 in February compared to the last two months. Approximately, 659 (5.51%) out of 11,950 cases were from this particular age group which declined to 4.67% (488 out of 10,448) in January and swelled to 6.14% (458 out of 7,462) in February.
Schools and tuition classes for students from standard 5-8 reopened in the district last month along with sports and other cultural activities.