No let-up in Covid deaths in Ludhiana

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 24

Pandemic continued to wreak havoc in the district with 11 more persons losing their lives to the virus and 151 contracting infection today. The number of patients on ventilator has risen to 30. The number of positive cases now stands at 8,831 and the death toll at 323.

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The youngest one to lose life today was a nine-year-old boy, who was also suffering from TB.

A 26-year-old undertrial at the Central Jail here also succumbed to Covid. He was booked in a rape case in July 2019 by the Jamalpur police. He was admitted to the hospital in the jail on June 30. He was anaemic and a patient of hepatitis C. On July 11, he was shifted to the Civil Hospital where his Covid report came negative. On August 11, he was again admitted to the Civil Hospital and two days after he was referred to the Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Before discharge, he was tested for Covid and the report came positive. He died in Patiala last night.

A 42-year-old woman from Focal Point and a 43-year-old man from New Janta Nagar also died of Covid at the Patiala hospital.

Two men, aged above 70 years, died at Krishna Charitable Hospital. Three Covid patients breathed their last at the DMCH. They include a 64-year-old resident of Shastri Nagar, a 76-year-old person from Green Park and a 58-year-old resident of South City. All of them had co-morbidities such as diabetes and blood pressure.

A 40-year-old man admitted at the Civil Hospital and a 72-year-old man from Dehlon were among the deceased.

Of 151 infections reported today, 40 were cases received at flu corners, 35 contacts of Covid patients, 37 OPD cases, three policemen and nine were healthcare workers.

DC’s orders for radiologists

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Sharma has directed all radiologists in the district to provide complete information about the patients whose CT scans show symptoms of Covid-19 infection to the Civil Surgeon Ludhiana on the same day of testing. This order is issued using the powers conferred under the National Disaster Management Act -2005 and Epidemic Diseases Act-1897.

Action will be initiated as per law under the NDMA, 2005 and the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 against violators — Varinder Sharma, DC

“It has been brought to the notice of the administration that some people are getting CT scans done of their lunges without going for any of the standard Covid tests. As a result, people are avoiding Covid test which is against the standard protocol laid down by the Health Ministry. Due to this practice, many patients are wasting precious time before severe symptoms of Covid set in. Consequently many patients are reporting to tertiary care hospitals in a very critical stage when the best possible efforts may not save their lives,” said the Deputy Commissioner.

Sharma has also directed doctors and paramedics not to refuse treatment to any Covid patient. “In case of any complaint, action shall be taken as per law under the NDMA, 2005 and the Epidemic Disease Act,” said Sharma.

Weblink where residents can check real time status of vacant and occupied beds in all hospitals:

https://ludhiana.nic.in/notice/covid-19-bed-status-in-ludhiana-district/

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