Three more deaths, toll 102 in Punjab

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 22

With three more deaths being reported today, the Covid-19 toll rose to 102 in the state. Apart from the deaths, 127 fresh cases were also reported, raising the state count to 4,235.

All three deceased belonged to Ludhiana. A 70-year-old patient, who was a resident of Shivpuri, lost his life on Monday morning at SPS Hospital. He had been admitted to the hospital on June 19. He suffered from hypertension and kidney disease.

The second deceased was also an elderly patient. Hailing from Jamalpur, the 63-year-old had been admitted to the emergency ward of Fortis Hospital in a critical condition. He was put on a ventilator, but could not be saved. His Covid report came positive posthumously, said Dr Gurdarshan Singh Mangat, unit head, Fortis Hospital.

The third patient who succumbed to the infection was a 42-year-old woman who had been admitted to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. A diabetic, she was intubated on June 22. She suffered a cardiac arrest at 9.20 am on Monday, but could not be resuscitated despite the best efforts of the doctors on duty. The patient’s daughter and husband have both tested positive and are admitted to a hospital in Patiala.

With the state media bulletin reporting 28 more positive cases in Amritsar, the total count has increased to 786. Of the 28 new patients, 18 have influenza-like illnesses and 10 are contacts of positive cases. A police official posted at the B-Division police station is among those who have tested positive.

Amritsar district has recently witnessed a spurt in positive cases and Covid-19 deaths. With 11 deaths in the last week alone, the toll in the district has reached 31. Officials said of the 254 active cases admitted to hospitals, one was on oxygen support.

In Jalandhar, 46 more persons tested positive. The district tally has reached 564. Of the fresh cases, 14 are contacts of previous patients from Bhargo Camp, Seth Hukam Chand Colony and other areas.

The son of a local councillor has also tested positive. Notably, he had recently met a Jalandhar MLA. Three policemen are among those who tested positive in the district today.