Covid-19: Five more succumb in Patiala district, 359 test positive

Patiala, January 22

After urban areas, Covid is now spreading fast in villages of the district.

Health officials said there was a substantial rise in positive cases among villagers.

Among 359 new cases reported from the district today, around 35 per cent surfaced in villages. The Patiala Health Department on Thursday declared ward number 10 in Ghanaur village as a micro-containment zone after nine fresh cases were reported there. Besides, Bathonia and Dkhansu Kalan villages of the district also saw a rise in the number of fresh cases.

District Epidemiologist Sumeet Singh said, “There is a substantial rise in positive cases in villages. Some villages have reported over 20 positive cases in a day.”

Civil Surgeon Prince Sodhi said Patiala on Saturday reported five Covid deaths, thereby taking the fatality count of the district to 1,416 since the pandemic broke out in 2020. Two of the patients were fully vaccinated. Health officials claimed that a majority of the patients who died of Covid were comorbid.

14,617 doses administered

• The Health Department on Saturday administered 14,617 doses of the Covid vaccine in the district. With this, around 7.32 lakh of the total 14.98 lakh targeted beneficiaries have received both doses while 12.07 lakh beneficiaries are partially vaccinated.
• It has been learnt that the Health Department would soon launch mobile vaccination teams with an aim to increase the vaccination tally ahead of the Assembly polls. Besides, the daily vaccination target has been increased from 50,000 to 70,000 doses.