Second wave deadlier than first in Ludhiana

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 7

The second Covid wave, which has been rapidly sliding into a devastating crisis, has also turned out to be more deadly than the first one in Ludhiana district, if the official figures are any indication.

The number of average daily virus deaths has touched 16 in the district this week, whereas the highest casualty count last year was 12.

The data of trends, comparing first and second wave by the district administration, a copy of which is with The Tribune, revealed that Ludhiana reported the highest-ever 16 daily average Covid deaths between April 26 and May 2. These casualties were confined to only the district residents whereas the virus deaths of those from outside Ludhiana, who died in the district, were not included in the tally.

The much disturbing trend evident in the data was the exponential rise in the average daily Covid deaths, which doubled from eight between April 19 and 25 to 16 between April 26 and May 2.

“If this trend continues, the situation, which has already turned grimmer, will become unimaginable,” quipped a health expert, Dr AP Singh.

According to the official figures, the average daily virus deaths remained below five between December 28 last year and March 14 this year.

The count remained five between March 15 and 28 before rising to seven between March 29 and April 4. It once again came down to five between April 5 and 18 before shooting up to eight between April 19 and 25.

The comparative figures of the first wave showed that the daily average casualties due to the virus touched the highest tally of 12 between August 24-30 and September 14-20 last year.

The district had reported nine average Covid deaths between August 3 and 9 last, 10 between August 10 and 23, 11 between September 7 and 13, before coming down to eight between September 21 and October 4.

The count further dipped to four between October 5 and 11, three between October 12 and 18, touching the lowest level of one between October 19 and November 8 last.

The death toll had again went up to two between November 9 and 15, three between November 16 and 29, two between November 30 and December 6, three between December 7 and 13, before once again sliding down to two between December 14 and 20 and once again hitting the low of one between December 21 and 27 last year.

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