Watch out! Chandigarh sees 50% rise in cases of Covid-19

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 25

The city has started to show a minor surge in cases of Covid-19 with a 50 per cent rise recorded this week.

Against 18 cases of Covid recorded last week, the city has logged 36 cases now despite a decline in testing this week. This rising trend has worried experts as the seven-month-long break from Covid may begin to fade out.

It is after a long time that the city has witnessed a high number of single-day cases. It is indeed a serious situation given the scenario where people are not seen following the Covid protocol. If this continues, the cases will rise sporadically and there will be yet another wave. I would like to appeal to people to stay careful and follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. Dr Suman Singh, DHS, Chandigarh

Today, the city saw nine new cases of Covid-19.

The positivity rate has increased to 0.4 per cent, while it was 0.2 per cent last week. The city conducted 8,626 tests this week against 8,926 tests from November 11 to 18. Kerala-based data scientist Rijo M John said, “It is a significant jump from its own baseline. This is quite a worrisome trend as the city is seeing a rise in cases despite a decline in testing and that is indicative of an increasing test positivity and evidence of more missing cases. It is high time the authorities significantly increased testing as the cases have begun to rise steadily over the past several days.”

Expressing concern over the declining weekly testing rate and a spike in the positivity rate in some districts, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Wednesday wrote to 13 states and union territories to maintain high testing rates. Punjab is one of the states that has been asked to prevent a surge.

The seven-day active cases growth of the city is above the national average. As on November 23, the city growth rate stood at 2.09 per cent, while the national growth rate was only – 1.53 per cent.

The Director, Health Services, Chandigarh, Dr Suman Singh, said, “It is after a long time that the city has witnessed a high number of single-day cases. It is indeed a serious situation given the scenario where people are not seen following the Covid protocol. If this continues, the cases will rise sporadically and there will be yet another wave. I would like to appeal to people to stay careful and start practising Covid-appropriate behaviour.”

No. of cases

Nov 25 9

Nov 24 6

Nov 23 5

Nov 23 4

Nov 21 6

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