Bathinda reports highest 27 Covid deaths in a day

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 11

Bathinda district has witnessed 179 Covid deaths in the first 11 days of May so far. It witnessed the highest one day spike of Covid deaths as 27 deaths and 700 new cases were reported on Tuesday. Now the active Covid cases stand at 6,714 in the district.

This means that on an average 15 to 16 persons are dying in the district due to coronavirus. Even the number of positive cases has gone up significantly this month. In April, 8,942 Covid cases were reported, whereas in just 11 days of this month the district has reported 8,079 cases.

Condition at ground level is quite worrisome as 96 per cent of level-3 beds in the district are occupied. As per official data, out of 231 beds of level-3, 222 have been occupied and only nine are available.

Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister OP Soni said at this time the number of Covid patients has increased a lot and in Bathinda district daily positivity rate stands at 23.48 per cent. Therefore, the situation demands to further increase the level 2 and level 3 beds for the treatment of Covid patients.

“Despite our efforts we have been able to arrange 70-75 level-2 beds in newly constructed AIIMS at Bathinda, which will be available soon, due to which we have divided cancer institute into two parts. One part is to be used for COVID care centre and other for cancer patients, said Soni.

Bathinda DC B Srinivasan held a review meeting with officials and took stock of sampling and vaccination drive in the district. In the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner directed the in-charge of the Corona Cell concerned to make a daily schedule for sampling and vaccination and to keep a constant watch on Covid positive persons isolated in the houses.