Daily Covid cases, positivity rate at 6-month high in Ludhiana district

Tribune News Service

Nitin Jain

Ludhiana, July 28

The daily Covid positive cases and positivity rate of virus patients has touched a six-month high in Ludhiana district, the official figures have confirmed.

While the death count of Covid patients has crossed the 3,000-mark to reach 3,001 today, the count of active virus cases has also risen to six-month high in the district.

The official figures compiled by the district administration, a copy of which is with The Tribune, showed that 70 Covid cases reported in Ludhiana on Thursday and 77 on Wednesday were highest after 94 virus patients recorded here on February 6.

After February 6, the tally of daily Covid patients had started receding to touch 11 on February 27 and further hitting the lowest of zero on March 30 and 31.

From April 1 to June 10, the daily case count remained in single digit and on several occasions, it was recorded zero.

Since June 11, the daily number of Covid patients had once again started rising to double digit and touched six-month high on July 27 and 28 with 77 and 70 persons testing positive for the dreaded virus on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

Similarly, the Covid hit rate, a key indicator of virus surge, also shot up to its six-month high of 2.1 per cent on July 25, which was highest after 3.26 per cent positivity rate recorded here on February 5.

On February 6, the virus hit rate had dipped sharply to 1.58 per cent and since then, it was falling continuously to touch 0.11 per cent on February 24 and 25 while it further decreased to 0.05 per cent on March 5 before plunging to the lowest of zero positivity rate on March 30 and 31.

The Covid hit rate remained well below 1 per cent till June 26 but it rose to 1.23 per cent on June 27 but again dipped to 0.57 per cent on June 28.

However, since July 18, the virus positivity rate in Ludhiana district remained above 1 per cent as it was recorded 1.18 per cent on July 18, and further rising to 1.26 per cent on July 19, 1.48 per cent on July 20, 1.29 per cent on July 21, 1.31 per cent on July 22, 1.67 per cent on July 23, 1.63 per cent on July 24, and touching the six-month high of 2.1 per cent on July 25.

For the past three days, the Covid positivity rate dipped but remained close to the 2 per cent mark as it was recorded 1.79 per cent on July 26, 1.99 per cent on July 27, and 1.89 per cent on July 28. The Covid has so far claimed lives of 3,001 local residents in Ludhiana.

On the active case front as well, the situation was no better. With Covid active cases touching 361 on Thursday, the count was highest after 384 virus active cases recorded here on February 12.

From February 13, the active case had started receding to touch double digit of 97 on February 23, and further coming to single digit of 9 on April 3.

However, the virus active patient count had once again started rising from April 5 and since then it remained in double digit till June 16, barring June 5, when it reached 9.

From June 17, the number of active Covid cases further rose to three digits when it reached 113.

Since then, the tally of active virus cases remained in three digits and crossed the 300-mark on July 24 when it touched 313, and 312 on July 25. It shot up to 325 on July 26, 349 on July 27, and touched the six-month high of 361 on July 28.

One dies, 70 fresh cases

One person lost his life to Covid while 70 more people tested positive for the virus in the district on Thursday.

Now, a total of 1,12,302 have tested positive in the district since the outbreak of Covid in the district and a total of 3,001 people have lost their life to the contagion since March 30, 2020 when first death was reported in the district.

As on today, there are 361 active cases out of which 343 have been asked to isolate themselves in their homes while 18 are admitted in private hospitals.

Till date, a total of 38,01,044 samples have been taken, of which 36,73,745 samples were found negative. — TNS

FOLLOW COVID APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR: DC

Though the number of daily Covid cases are on the rise, the situation is well under control and there is no need to panic. However, the residents are advised to follow Covid appropriate behaviour even as the district administration is fully prepared to deal with the situation. – Surabhi Malik, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

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