Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 9

It seems Covid cases continue to decline in the district despite laxity in restrictions. In August, only 26 positive cases have been reported. In July, 219 positive cases were reported. The Health Department informed that not a single positive case was reported on Monday. The number of active cases with three more recoveries today dropped to 23, the department added.

According to sources there is a steep decline in the positivity rate too. Officials claimed that the positivity rate in the district had fallen below 0.5 per cent in the district. Positivity rate was recorded at 0.24 in July while it was 2.47 per cent in June. In May, the rate of infection transmission was 10.78 per cent.

Dr Sumeet Singh, district epidemiologist, said they had been successful in containing the spread of virus wherever there was clustering of positive cases.

“Early detection of cases followed by containment in the affected areas has curbed the spread of virus. Adopting this approach, we declared Achal village a containment zone. Consequently, no positive case has been reported in the surrounding areas of the village,” said Dr Sumeet.

Dr Sumeet claimed that herd immunity was playing its role to some extent. However, in the face of any genetic variation in the virus cases might rise again, said Dr Sumeet.

“If there is no virus variation, situation is likely to remain same. Herd immunity is also playing its role in controlling the spread of virus in the area,” Dr Sumeet added. When asked about the role of residents in curbing the spread of Covid, Dr Sumeet said, “Apart from following Covid appropriate behaviour, people should get themselves tested for the virus infection immediately.”