Current wave more infectious, but less fatal, say doctors in city

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8

With cases surpassing the previous Covid peak every day, the current wave is spreading faster than the first one in the city, say doctors. However, the fatality ratio is lower.

From March 6 to April 8, 7,283 cases have been reported in the city. In the last surge, 6,856 cases were reported between August 16 and September 16.

Of the 29,521 cases reported so far, 3,115 are currently active.

The fact that no ICU bed at PGI’s Covid-19 facility is vacant gives a clear idea of the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the City Beautiful, even though health officials claim availability of enough beds. They say more beds will be added soon.

More severe patients

According to doctors, the severity of disease in patients being admitted to the hospitals in the current wave is more than the previous wave.

Prof GD Puri, Dean (Academics) and Head, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, PGI, had recently told The Tribune that a lot of younger patients in the age group of less than 50 are coming to the hospital with high severity of Covid.

He had stated that there were a lot of patients from nearby states as well. Some of them reached the hospital only at a later stage, increasing the mortality rate, he said.

However, Dr Jasbinder Kaur, Director, GMCH-32, was unavailable for comments.

City reports 324 fresh cases, 1 death

Chandigarh: The city on Thursday reported 324 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the UT tally to 29,521. The city also witnessed one Covid-related death. A 70-year-old man from Sector 37, a case of coronary artery disease, was brought dead at Shalby Hospital, Mohali. The Covid toll now stands at 389. With 329 fresh recoveries, the number of cured patients reached 26,017. TNS

Two more die, 456 +ve in Mohali

Mohali: Two more persons succumbed to Covid-19 during the past 24 hours, taking the death toll in the district to 467. As many as 456 fresh cases surfaced in the district till Thursday evening while 267 patients were cured of the disease. As of now, the district tally stands at 29,974 and recoveries 25,043. There are 4,464 active cases. TNS

Testing scaled up

As many as 57,462 tests were conducted last month compared to 47,112 conducted in September last year – an increase by over 10,000.

Fewer Deaths

As many as 106 deaths were reported in September last year during the peak of the first wave. Only 27 deaths were reported last month. A comparison of the two months suggests that fatalities are lower in the current wave.