Ludhiana reports 2nd highest daily Covid cases in Punjab, says study

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 17

Ludhiana, which is among the high-burden districts and had re-emerged as Covid hotspot, has reported high transmission of the disease, a recent study has revealed.

The study conducted by the Department of Community Medicine at Christian Medical College (CMC) here reported that Ludhiana was among four districts, Mohali, Jalandhar and Patiala being others, with high transmission of Covid.

“The recent spike in the cases needs to be observed closely for any divergence from the predicted trajectory,” advised the experts at CMC, while opining that the increased number of tests can explain the recent spike but any divergence from the predicted trajectory requires close monitoring.

However, the daily testing in Ludhiana between April 7 and 13 was recorded at 1,023 per million population, which was even lower than the state average of 1,304 per million.

Ahead of the national average of 932, Ludhiana ranked sixth last in the state as only five other districts — Tarn Taran with 832, Bathinda 814, Ferozepur 755, Barnala 705 and Moga worst with lowest 498 per million testing — behind it.

Pathankot topped the state with highest 2,207 per million testing, followed by Jalandhar 2,057, Nawanshahr 1,986, Kapurthala 1,907, Patiala 1,900, Mohali 1,880, Ropar 1,661, Muktsar 1,341, Hoshiarpur 1,303, Faridkot 1,249, Amritsar 1,229, Gurdaspur 1,178, Fatehgarh Sahib 1,078, Fazilka 1,074, Sangrur 1,053, and Mansa 1,042.

In the average number of positive cases between March 10 and April 13, Ludhiana recorded the second highest 341 daily cases, only behind Jalandhar with highest 342 infections in the state.

Among other districts, Mohali reported 327, Amritsar 243, Patiala 230, Hoshiarpur 201, Gurdaspur 118, Kapurthala 117, Bathinda 103, Nawanshahr 76, Ropar 73, Sangrur 45, Faridkot 42, Tarn Taran and Pathankot 39 each, Fatehgarh Sahib 38, Ferozepur 35, Muktsar 32, Moga 31, Fazilka 30, Mansa 27 and Barnala reported the lowest 16 daily cases.

The state had reported 2,544 average daily cases during this period.

When it comes to the average positivity rate between March 10 and April 13, Ludhiana stood fifth in the state with 8 per cent positivity, which was even higher than 7.2 per cent average positivity rate.

Mohali reported the highest positivity rate of 18.4 per cent, followed by Patiala 8.6, Bathinda and Kapurthala 8.3 each, Ropar 8, Jalandhar 7.8, Amritsar 7.5, Hoshiarpur 7.4, Faridkot 7.2, Fatehgarh Sahib 6.9, Moga 6.2, Nawanshahr 5.2, Gurdaspur 5, Ferozepur 4.7, Barnala 4.5, Tarn Taran 4.4, Muktsar 4.3, Mansa and Pathankot 3.7 each, Fazilka 3.2 and Sangrur 2.9.

Christian Medical College experts have recommended continuation of the current restrictions on schools and meetings and strict vigilance on testing and isolation for next few weeks. They also advised that people attending gatherings should themselves report symptoms, get test done and self-isolate promptly if positive.

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