Equal no. of healthy people, those with comorbidities died

Subhash Rajta
Tribune News Service
Shimla, May 25

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In Himachal, about an equal number of healthy people and those with comorbidities have died due to Covid-19. Of the total 2,752 deaths reported in the state till May 23, 1,401 (50.9 per cent) were of people with comorbidities, while 1,351 (49.1 per cent) were of healthy individuals — a difference of less than two per cent.

When compared with Punjab, these numbers look surprising. In the neighboring state, around 85 per cent of deaths have been of people with comorbid conditions and the remaining 15 per cent of healthy individuals.

In numbers

Of the total 2,752 deaths reported in the state till May 23, 1,401 (50.9 per cent) were of people with comorbidities, while 1,351 (49.1 per cent) were of healthy individuals — a difference of less than two per cent.

“I think it’s because of vaccination. We had started vaccination for people with comorbidities in the 45 plus age group a month before it was opened for general public. Our feeling is that the effect of the vaccination has started to demonstrate among people with comorbidities, and hence we are witnessing lesser deaths among them,” said Nipun Jindal, Director, National Health Mission.

Incidentally, on April 30, people with comorbidities comprised 67.3 per cent of the total deaths, while healthy individuals were 32.7 per cent. In the subsequent three weeks, when the number of deaths rose consistently, the death count among healthy people increased significantly.

Dr Malay Sarkar, a member of the state Covid clinical team, feels that increased deaths among healthy and younger people could be because of the new strain of the virus. “The new strain is causing severe disease and deaths even among the young and the healthy. So, that could be the reason for this data,” he said. “In the first wave, more deaths were witnessed among people having comorbidities,” he added.

Dr Sarkar said though the data showed an equal number of healthy and people with comorbidities dying of Covid, the latter continues to be at a greater risk.

“The disease progresses from mild to severe very quickly among comorbid patents. So, everyone has to be on alert and follow the Covid-appropriate behaviour,” he added.