Virus raises its ugly head in Hoshiarpur dist again

Hoshiarpur, March 10

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Covid cases have witnessed a massive spike in Hoshiarpur district again. On Wednesday, 221 fresh cases, which is the highest surge, were reported in the district, confirmed District Epidemiologist Dr Shailesh.

Out of 221 new cases, 15 patients were from Hoshiarpur city and 189 were from other health centres.

Making situation difficult for the health authorities is the spread of the virus among school students and teachers.

As many as 1,657 samples have been collected from 27 schools of which, 95 students and 11 teachers have tested positive. The number of micro-containment zones in the district has increased to 18 and hotspots to 27.

Civil Surgeon Dr Ranjit Singh Ghotra said Level 2 institutional covid care has been activated at the Hoshiarpur Civil Hospital (75-bed capacity) and Dasuya sub-divisional hospital has been put on standby. A total of 34 positive patients have been admitted to the Hoshiarpur Civil Hospital and the number is feared to rise.

The Health Department has geared up to turn the Civil Hospital into a covid care facility shifting the non-covid patients to the ESI Hospital.

“The scenario is different this time. Earlier, Covid patients were reluctant to come to the hospital, but now they are coming to the hospital for treatment. We are preparing accordingly. I have written to the ESI Director to allow us to shift the non-covid patients to the ESI Hospital,” said Dr Ghotra.

He said the number of positive patients has increased to 9,642 and the death toll reached 388 with two more deaths reported today.

“The reason for spike in the Covid-19 cases is non-compliance of precautions suggested by the Health Department. We can tackle the disease to a great extent by cleaning our hands from time to time, wearing masks and practising social distancing. The Health Department is vaccinating healthcare workers, frontline workers, senior citizens and those above 45 years with comorbidities. This pandemic can be defeated by following the Covid protocol,” he said.