10-11 deaths every day in May due to Covid in Jalandhar district

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 17

The deadliest second wave of Covid has hit one and all in the district and this alarming surge in infections and death rate has become a cause for concern for the Health Department. As per the figures provided by the department, 609 persons have already lost their lives this year so far, while 643 lost battle to the virus last year. Moreover, against about 19,000 positive cases in 10 months last year, more than 34,000 people contracted the virus in over four months this year.

On an average, 10 to 11 persons are succumbing to the virus daily, as around 165 patients have died in 17 days.

The spurt in number of positive cases has also gone up significantly this month. While in April, 13,361 persons tested positive for the virus and 167 died due to the deadly virus, as many as 11,385 fresh cases have been reported this month with 152 fatalities. The highest spike in cases so far, with the single-day tally over 950 has also been witnessed in May, when the number of daily fresh cases fluctuates between 550 and 700.

This year, highest number of deaths were reported in March i.e. 214. With 8,053 fresh cases reported in the same month alone, it is also considered as the time when the second wave of Covid emerged. A total of 1,037 cases and 31 fatalities were reported in February and with 718 fresh cases, January witnessed the least number of infections this year and 32 people died due to it in this month.

All ICU beds with ventilator occupied at Civil Hospital

Out of 284 total L-2 oxygen beds, only 182 are available at the Civil Hospital. Similarly, out of 38 total L-3 ICU beds (without ventilators), 23 are available. However, all 18 L-3 ICU beds (with ventilators) are occupied. Similarly, at the Military hospital and the BSF hospital, none of the L-3 beds are available. As per sources, most of the private hospitals are also running out of the L-3 beds with ventilators.

Nawanshahr gets 10 new sites for vaccination drive

Nawanshahr: As many as 65 fresh cases were reported in the district and five persons, including a 32-year-old woman from Saroya block who breathed her last at DMC, Ludhiana, succumbed to the virus today. The total number of cases in the district has increased to 10,263.

As per information, owing to heavy rush at government hospitals for vaccination, 10 new sites of vaccination have been established in the district.

The number of fresh cases and fatalities reported this months is comparatively higher than that of in the last month. In the first 12 days of April, nearly 600 cases were reported, while in the same number of days in May, nearly 880 have been reported. The death rate has also increased. MLA Nawanshar Angad Singh along with DC Dr Shena Aggarwal inspected the vaccination drive.