At 20, dist sees highest single-day Covid deaths

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 12

In highest single-day toll, Patiala district reported 20 Covid deaths today.

Of the 20 victims, 11 were from the rural areas. Health officials informed that Covid deaths in rural areas were increasing.

Despite rising Covid toll, villagers seemed reluctant for testing and not cooperating, said officials.

Dr Aslam Parvez, in-charge, Rapid Response Team, overseeing 100 villages, said, “There is still opposition from villagers for testing and vaccination against virus despite creating awareness. In some villages of the district, residents are opposing testing even after several Covid-related deaths in their areas.”

A senior medical officer, pleading anonymity, said, “We have directed medical practitioners in villages to follow a strict protocol if suspected patients comes to them because villagers rely more on RMPs. Villagers are scared to come to the tertiary hospital in Patiala.”

Meanwhile, the Patiala Civil Surgeon, Dr Satinder Singh, while commenting on hesitancy in villages, said, “Special efforts are being made in rural areas to convince villagers to come forward for testing. Senior medical officers of each block in the district have been asked to ramp up testing at the village level. There are only a few cases where opposition to Covid testing has been witnessed.”