LUDHIANA: With novel coronavirus spreading its tentacles, new cases reported in the district in the past week were the highest since October last year. In another indication of things getting serious, active cases in Ludhiana are more than 900.
The
health department data shows that between March 7 and 13, as many as 912 cases were registered in the district. The cases in the preceding week (February 28 to March 6) were about 36% less. The figure is the highest after 1,007 cases were reported between September 27 and October 3 last.
After reaching the highest value of 2,802 cases between September 13 and 19 last, the new cases in seven days fell to 523 between October 11 and 17 and 325 between October 25 and 31 last year. After that, the number increased to 439 between November 1 and 7; 610 from November 8 to 14 and 696 between November 22 and 28 last year. It declined to 196 cases between January 10 and 16 and rose to 287 during January 31 to February 6; 332 from February 14 to 20 and then to the present value.
On the state’s weekly case count chart, Ludhiana with 912 cases is at the fourth spot.
Hoshiarpur is at the top with 1,134 cases and Jalandhar second with 1,125 cases. Barnala has the lowest number of 20 cases. The industrial hub was second in the preceding week with 612 cases.
Meanwhile, Ludhiana dropped to the sixth position in Punjab in active cases (907) as on Saturday. Jalandhar was at number one spot with 1,438 active cases and SBS Nagar second with 1,382. Barnala had the lowest number of 48 active cases. The industrial hub was fourth in the state on March 6.
The health department officials admitted that Covid-19 situation was getting serious in Ludhiana.
An officer of the health department said, “More than 900 cases in a week indicate that second wave is here and things are getting serious in Ludhiana. People should not ignore the pandemic guidelines of wearing mask, maintaining social distancing and following hand hygiene.”
Residents said the authorities should act strictly to enforce the rules.
“A look at the ground situation shows people are taking the guidelines lightly. The authorities should ensure rule compliance to check spike in cases,” said Narinder Singh, a city resident.