At 0.33, Panchkula fatality rate lowest in tricity

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 16

Despite witnessing a consistent rise in the number of Covid-19 cases, the fatality rate in Panchkula district has remained low. Of 1,209 cases reported so far, four patients have succumbed to the virus.

The fatality rate stands at 0.33 per cent. In preventing Covid deaths, the district is doing much better than Chandigarh and Mohali, which have the fatality rate of 1.37 and 1.99, respectively. While Chandigarh has witnessed 29 Covid-induced deaths, Mohali toll is 36.

Civil Surgeon Jasjeet Kaur said, “The credit for the low rate goes to the people as well as preparedness of the Health Department. Early detection due to aggressive testing, smart contact tracing, timely isolation and referral of the patient to a higher health care facility whenever required have made a big difference.”

As a rise in the caseload is inevitable, the department is focusing on preventing deaths from the contagion with identification and special treatment of patients at high risk. “Those above the age of 60 and those with co-morbidities and complications are on our priority list. From strict surveillance to keeping all persons at Covid care ward in the Civil Hospital, all preventive steps have shown positive results,” the CMO added.

According to officials, three deaths took place in the district due to co-morbidities in advance-age patients. One person died due to delay in seeking treatment as he kept taking self-medication and visiting quacks.