13 more catch virus, total climbs to 1,089 in Amritsar district

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 11

With the district Health Department reporting 13 new Covid-19 positive cases here on Saturday, the total count of positive cases has increased to 1,089. Of the new cases, five are influenza-like illness (ILI) cases while the remaining eight are contacts of positive patients.

Of the five ILI cases, one each was reported from Dayanand Nagar, Nagina Avenue, Katra Khajana, Sawan Nagar and Chitta Katra. Of the contact cases, four were reported from Uttam Avenue (Sultanwind Road) while one each was reported from Tailor Road, Gobind Nagar and Vijay Nagar. At present, the district has a total of 149 active cases.

The district has witnessed a total of 888 recoveries from the disease so far.

The district has reported the highest number of 52 deaths due to Covid-19 in the state. While a majority of casualties were aged persons with comorbidities, the high mortality rate is still a cause for concern. The district has reported the highest mortality rate of 4.77 per cent in the district against the national average of 2.62 per cent.

The district has witnessed a spurt in the number of fresh cases and casualties during the last 30 days as the number of cases has increased manifold and the death toll has gone up nearly four and a half times. The death count on June 9 was just 11, which has now increased to 52.

Van to collect Covid samples

District Congress committee urban president Jatinder Sonia on Saturday inaugurated mobile Covid-19 testing van at Chitta Gumat locality in Ram Bagh. A team of doctors led by Dr Navdeep Singh, Civil Surgeon, took random samples of 30 persons from the area. Sonia appreciated the efforts being made by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to fight Covid.

Karnataka returnee tests +ve

Tarn Taran: The Covid-19 report of a Karnataka returnee, who is a native of Kullha village (Patti) has returned positive. The patient has been admitted to the isolation ward of the local Civil Hospital.

The number of the cases admitted to the local isolation ward now stands at 11 as two Patti sub-jail inmates have been been sent back to the jail after their recovery.

The report of the Karnataka returnee, a resident of Kullha village, had become to a thing of great concern as his sample was taken on July 3 there in Karnataka. His report was sent to the district administration . He travelled hundreds of kilometers to reach his village on Friday. He met his family members at his village since Friday. He had gone there to seek job. — OC

GMC doctor, who alleged poor quality PPE kits, suspended

The Department of Medical Education and Research has suspended Dr Shiv Charan of Government Medical College (GMC). Dr Shiv was the head of the Medicine Department. Notably, he had highlighted the poor quality of PPE kits purchased by the college. While the department had recently removed the principal and the vice-principal from their posts after the inquiry began recently, Dr Shiv was transferred to the Patiala GMC. As he managed to get his transfer orders stayed, citing his retirement age, his suspension has come as a shock to many at GMC. The faculty is now left guessing if he is being punished for calling a spade a spade as he had written to the Principal regarding the poor quality of PPE kits.

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