Covid cases breach 9,000 mark in Ludhiana

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 25

With 195 more testing positive, the number of Covid patients in Ludhiana district has swelled to 9,026. In five months, the district has crossed the 9,000 mark, August witnessing a maximum number of cases. Today, 10 more lost their lives, taking the death toll to 333.

August, on an average, has seen 10 deaths and more than 100 cases each day. The highest number of cases was reported on August 21 when 462 tested positive in the district. On August 16 and 22, the district saw 15 fatalities each. The fatality rate of Ludhiana is 3.5% while that of the state is 2.6%.

Of a total of 9,026 cases, 8,001 cases have been reported from urban areas. The city has added the highest 297 deaths to the district toll.

“Congested city areas, population load and people living and working in tight compartments are the reasons that more people from the city are getting infected,” said the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajesh Bagga.

Today, seven men and three women list their lives to Covid. A 92-year-old woman of Gurdev Enclave succumbed to the virus at the CMCH. Another patient succumbing at the CMCH was a 60-year-old man from Ambedkar Nagar (also a diabetic).

Two deaths reported from the DMCH were residents of Partap Nagar and the Rose Garden area. An 85-year-old man from BRS Nagar died at Arora Neuro Centre. He was also suffering from a coronary artery disease.

A 75-year-old woman from Upkar Nagar died at Guru Nanak Charitable Hospital, also a patient of diabetes and hypertension. A 35-year-old woman from Shakti Nagar breathed her last at the Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala.

Two residents of Chandigarh Road and Haibowal Kalan also succumbed to the virus.

Panjab University fellow professor Suresh Tandon (68), who was recently nominated by the Indian Vice-President as fellow (PU), also lost his life to Covid. He was a PU fellow from Ludhiana and former vice-chairman, Punjab School Education Board.

Of 195 positive cases, a maximum of 41 persons were identified during contact tracing while 38 were diagnosed at flu corners. The cases included 32 undertrials, eight healthcare workers and five policemen.