Assam: 70% Covid deaths in last 5 days from 41-70 age group

GUWAHATI: Though the lethal second wave of Covid-19 has not spared anyone, data shows that about 70% of the deaths related to the virus in the last five days in the state have been of the 41 to 70 years age group. The casualty figures are three times higher in the case of men.
The death rate was recorded to be the lowest in the below 30 age group during this period accounting for 3% of the deaths. Between May 5 and 9, a total of 323 Covid-related deaths were reported from across the state. Of these, the highest 102 deaths were reported from Kamrup (Metropolitan) district covering Guwahati city areas, which has been topping in the daily count of cases.
In the districts, comprising vast rural areas, the number of deaths has been much lower than Kamrup (Metropolitan). However, in the Kamrup (Rural) district, lying adjacent to the city, one of the highest 18 deaths were reported in five days. The second highest deaths were reported from Dibrugarh district-----30 Covid deaths.
In the last 15 days (since April 27), 623 deaths were reported in Assam with the highest 77 deaths being reported on Monday and 85 on Tuesday. The number of deaths on April 27 was 18, but since then, there has been no respite though the figure marginally declined on a few days.
The health department could not pinpoint the financial background of the Covid patients dying in a comparatively quicker span of time since hospitalization. But the study has revealed that the male patients remain more vulnerable. Out of 323 deaths (between May 5 and 9), about 77% (249) are male and 74 are female.
The analysis has shown that the 51-60 years age group has been the most vulnerable. The highest 26.63% deaths are from the 51-60 years category, followed by 23.22% deaths in the 41-50 years category and 21.98% in the 61-70 years category.
Like the younger age groups below 41, the death rate has been lower in the case of the 71+. The death percentage has been lowest in the age group of less than 20 years where only one death has been reported, accounting for 0.31% of the total deaths in five days. In the 21-30 and 31-40 age groups, the death rate stood at 2.79% and 8.05% respectively. Despite the figure being slightly worrying for the 71-80 years category where 10.84% deaths are being reported, among those above 80 years, the corresponding figure has come down to 6.19%.
Doctors have already issued an advisory on early hospitalization. Senior health officials said delayed hospitalization and home-isolation without testing have resulted in a number of deaths which could have been prevented. Of the 323 deaths, 194 patients had comorbidities whereas in 129 cases comorbid conditions were not found. “In home isolation, many people are not regularly checking the oxygen level. Several deaths occurred, as the patients came to hospital after the oxygen level went down to an extremely low level,” said the Gauhati Medical College Hospital principal, Achyut Baishya.
During the period of study (May 5-9), a total of 16% of the Covid deaths (52 cases) were reported within 12 hours of hospitalization, whereas 14% or 46 deaths occurred within 24 hours of hospitalization. A total 26% (83 deaths) was reported in two to three days. But the highest figure of 91 deaths, accounting for 29% of the casualties, was reported between four and seven days.