60% rise in Covid cases in just 9 days has residents worried

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 28

A spurt in the number of Covid-19 cases has worried residents as well as health officials. In the last nine days of this month (February), the district has reported a total of 408 cases.

Covid Update

• New cases: 45
• Total cases: 15,732
• New deaths: 2
• Total deaths: 595
• New recovery: 20
• Total recovery 14,677
• Active 460

Helpline numbers for Covid patients

• City Control Room Numbers: 0183-2500398, 2500498, 2500598
• Health Department helpline: 0183-2535322, 0183-2535323
• Medical helpline: 104
• Contact a doctor: 1800 180 4104
• Bed availability and status: Punjab Covid App (updated daily at 5 pm)

Comparatively, the first 19 days of the month had reported only 281 cases. With a total of 689 cases in the month (60% rise), the district has surpassed the January’s tally of 533 cases.

With an average of 14-15 cases daily till February 19, it was expected that the total number of cases would be less than the previous month. The Covid-19 cases in the district have been decreasing with each passing month since September when the number of cases was at its peak. The month of December was exception when a slight increase in cases was witnessed.

Cases have started increasing from this month and the district has reported a total of 14 deaths. However, the district has reported 595 deaths due to the virus till date.

The district health authorities said the number of cases witnessed a rise recently. They said in the changed circumstances people need to take precautions. “It is no doubt that with the decline in the number of cases, residents had started taking the infection lightly. In view of risk to family members with co-morbidities, everyone should follow the guidelines,” said a health official.

Seeing the increase in number of cases, the district authorities have constituted three micro-containment zones to check its spread. The authorities said people who had come in contact with a positive person should get their tests done.