CHANDIGARH: The highest single day surge of the year with 249 cases was reported on Wednesday. Last year, September witnessed over 200 cases when there was a rise in the cases and the figures reached over 400 a day. The weekly total positivity rate has jumped from 9.9% since last week to 10.8% on March 23, which is second after Maharashtra where the positivity rate is 21.4%, while the national average is 4.1%.
The tests per million per day in the city is 1,804 while the national average is 757.5. Last week, the tests per million in a day were 1,954, the national average was 650.5.
“The testing keeps on increasing and decreasing without any uniformity. When the cases are increasing, there cannot be any gap in the testing numbers,” said a public health expert.
Compared to last month, there has been a steep rise of 75% cases this month. There were 813 cases in February, while the numbers have now reached to 3,291 from March 1 till March 24. Even in January, 1,126 cases were reported. The surge for this year started on March 6 when 122 cases were reported. Prior to this, there were less than 100 cases a day. It was only from March 17 onwards that the city started seeing over 200 cases daily.
“These numbers are on the rise and there is no denying the fact that this is the second wave now. The UT administartion must take strict action against those who donot wear masks and dont maintain social distancing, else things will go beyond control,” said a public health expert from the PGI.
Even while cases are increasing and mortality is low, the public health experts are worried about the surge in the cases.
“The spread in non-severe form is concerning as it will not cut the chain of transmission and this pandemic will continue for long. It is already more than a year now and we are still seeing more and more cases,” said the health expert.