12% Covid samples test +ve for variants

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 19

Almost 12 per cent of the total Covid samples processed for whole genome sequencing (WGS) have tested positive for variants of concern (VoCs) in Ludhiana district, the government has confirmed.

Ludhiana stood third after Mohali and Patiala in the spread of VoCs in the state, the official figures have revealed.

The district-wise distribution of VoCs in the state compiled by the Health and Family Welfare Department, which is available with The Tribune, showed that VoCs have been detected in 130 cases, which accounted

for 11.9 per cent of the total 1,093 samples processed for the WGS, in the district.

While Mohali with 341 VoC cases, accounting for 31.2 per cent, topped the state, Patiala with 323 VoC cases, which accounted for 29.6 per cent of the district’s total samples processed for the WGS, stood second.

Among other districts, Ropar ranked fourth with 69 VoC cases at 6.3 per cent ratio, followed by Kapurthala 60 VoC cases at 5.5 per cent, Nawanshahr 57 cases at 5.2 per cent, Jalandhar 31 cases at 2.8 per cent, Hoshiarpur 27 cases at 2.5 per cent, Mansa 25 cases at 2.3 per cent, Faridkot 17 cases at 1.6 per cent, Sangrur four cases at 0.4 per cent, Fatehgarh Sahib three cases at 0.3 per cent, Fazilka and Moga two cases each at 0.2 per cent, Bathinda and Gurdaspur reported one VoC case each at 0.1 per cent of their total samples processed for the WGS.

When it comes to the socio-demographic distribution of VoC cases in the state between January and June, when a total of 1,149 VoC cases were reported in the state, 279 patients between the 30 and 39 years age group contracted VoCs, which accounted for the maximum of 24.5 per cent VoC cases.

It was followed by 221 VoC cases in 20-29 years age group, accounting for 19.4 per cent, 193 in 40-49 years age group at 17 per cent, 157 in 50-59 years age group at 13.8 per cent, 138 in 10-19 years age group at 12.1 per cent, 75 in 60-69 years age group at 6.6 per cent, 54 in 70 years and above age group at 4.7 per cent, and 21 VoC cases in 0-9 years age group, which accounted for 1.8 per cent, in the state.

Of the total 1,136 VoC cases distributed in the gender ratio, 634 VoC cases were reported among women, which accounted for 55.8 per cent, and 502 men, accounting for 44.2 per cent.

The distribution of VoC cases by clinical profile by the ICMR categories suggested that 676 VoC cases, which accounted for 93.2 per cent, were found to be asymptomatic, while 49, accounting for 6.8 per cent, VoC positives were symptomatic.

Among the symptomatic cases, only one VoC patient, which accounted for 2 per cent, complained of severe symptoms, while 21 VoC cases, accounting for 42.9 per cent, reported moderate, and 27, accounting for 55.1 per cent, were found to be having mild symptoms in the state.

The distribution of VoC cases by type of isolation and outcome revealed that 767 cases, which accounted for 98.6 per cent, remained under home isolation, while only 11, accounting for 1.4 per cent, were kept under institutional isolation.

Among the institutional isolated cases, only one patient, which accounted for 9.1 per cent, was admitted to Level 3 health facility, while seven patients, accounting for 63.6 per cent to Level 2, and three patients, accounting for 27.3 per cent, were treated at Level 1 hospital.

While 777 cases, which accounted for 99.9 per cent, were discharged after being recovered, only one case, accounting for 0.1 per cent, was transferred.