2nd wave of Covid: 75+ age group sees 7% increase in deaths in Chandigarh

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 1

A seven per cent increase was noted in the deaths in the above 75 year age group during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the city.

In the first wave, the group had accounted for 17 per cent of the total deaths in the UT. However, in the second wave its proportion rose to 24 per cent.

At 8.80 per cent, the case fatality rate also continues to remain higher in the above 75 year age group.

The case fatality rate (CFR) refers to the proportion of Covid cases to deaths.

Though the case fatality decreased in all the age groups during the second wave, it increased 400 times in the above 75 year age group as compared to the 0.02 per cent in the 0-18 age group.

In the first wave, 0.5 per cent patients in the 0-18 year age group died of Covid. The maximum case fatality rate of 9.2 per cent was seen in the 75 plus age group.

Epidemiologist Dr Chandrakant Lahariya said, “Though the case fatality rate decreased in all age groups in the second wave, it was still higher in the above 75 years age group.”

“The government needs better reforms and healthcare practices for patients in this age group to save deaths. Due to better clinical experience and facilities in hospitals, the CFR in all age groups has reduced as compared to the first wave.”

There was a decrease of four per cent in the proportion of deaths in the 45-60 years age group during the second wave. The group accounted for 36 per cent of the total deaths during the first wave. However, in the second it accounted for 32 per cent deaths.

The proportion of deaths in the 19-45 years age group increased by 1.5 per cent during the second wave.

“Statistically, there is not much difference in deaths from the first to second wave in any age group. It rules out the perception that a lot of younger people died during the second wave,” said Dr Lahariya.

The first wave corresponds to the August-September period last year, whereas the second wave ran from April to May this year. As many as 374 Covid deaths took place in the city during the second wave. The city had reported 147 deaths in the first wave.

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