Once hotspot, now only 1 active case in Bapu Dham

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 14

Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26 — a Covid-19 hotspot in Chandigarh in May last year — has only one active case when the city is witnessing its second peak of coronavirus cases. Mani Majra continues to remain a Covid hotspot with over 200 active cases.

PGI virologist Prof Mini P Singh said, “Asymptomatic infections were responsible for the late detection and delayed isolation of coronavirus cases leading to a widespread outbreak in Bapu Dham Colony last year. The colony has low strata population which, despite having more viral load, is asymptomatic.”

Ruling out the possibility of herd immunity at Bapu Dham, Prof Singh said more than nine months had passed since the outbreak there. Antibodies do not remain for this long period. Only sero survey can tell the true picture about herd immunity. “It depends on whether any active surveillance is taking place in that area or not as there could be a possibility of asymptomatic infections,” she added.

The prevalence of Covid-19 infection in the city is more concentrated in the southern sectors of the city. After Mani Majra, Sector 41, 46 and 44 have over 100 cases. Covid-19 has spread its tentacles to around 84 areas in the UT.

As many as 65 containment zones and 30 new micro-containment zones have already been set up in Chandigarh by the Deputy Commissioner. A total of 20,688 Covid samples have been taken in April and 2,668 of these have tested positive. There is a positivity rate of 12 per cent in the city.

The active cases during this peak (3,371) have crossed the previous peak’s 3,171.

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