After steady rise for three weeks, Chandigarh tricity’s Covid cases see marginal dip

Health experts caution that Covid cases may rise again in the absence of safety precautions in public and high number of asymptomatic patients, who may pass on the virus

Climbing steadily for three straight weeks, tricity’s Covid-19 cases saw a marginal decline in the first week of August.

In the week gone by, Chandigarh reported the maximum cases (769), but they were lower than 934 last week. (HT File Photo)

Compared to 901 Covid cases between July 4 and 10, the tricity had logged 1,216 cases between July 11 and 17. The number rose further to 1,797 in the subsequent week and to 2,286 in the last week of July.

However, as August began, the cases dipped to 1,933 in the first week.

However, health experts cautioned that the tally might rise again as Covid-appropriate behaviour was being completely disregarded currently and with most patients being asymptomatic, the virus may spread swiftly.

In the week gone by, Chandigarh reported the maximum cases (769), but they were lower than 934 last week.

In Mohali as well, the number dipped from 717 to 647 between the two weeks. Similarly, Panchkula, saw its cases decreasing from 635 to 517.

Apart from cases, Covid-related fatalities also dipped this week. Two deaths each were reported from Chandigarh and Mohali, compared to six in the week ending on July 31.

As August began, the cases dipped to 1,933 in the first week, compared to 2,286 in the last week of July. (HT)

Amid the third wave in January, the tricity had recorded a whopping 59,273 cases and 113 deaths. The wave had receded in February when 5,964 cases and 79 deaths were reported in the tricity. March saw further decline in the pandemic numbers, with 403 cases and one death, while April concluded with 292 cases and zero death.

However, tricity’s Covid tally started increasing in May, which saw 783 cases. The case count multiplied significantly within a month, as 2,981 infections were logged in June, and shot up even more drastically in July, when 6,564 people were found infected.

‘90% cases are reinfections, precautions important’

Stressing on the significance of safety precautions, Dr PVM Lakshmi, professor of epidemiology, PGIMER, said, “ Around 90% of the people getting infected with the virus in the recent past are those who had got infected in the first, second or the third wave of the pandemic. This is because the immunity gained after the previous infection wanes after some months, making people prone to catching the infection again.”

She added, “Though the case tally rose in July, the number of people getting severe acute respiratory infection was comparatively lower, which is a positive sign. This automatically controls hospitalisation and fatality rates.”

Meanwhile, Dr Suman Singh, director, health services, Chandigarh, said, “Many cases go unreported when people are asymptomatic and hence, taking precautions is crucial. People must continue to wear masks and maintain social distancing in public, as even if there are no symptoms, the virus can prove lethal if passed on to the elderly, unvaccinated and co-morbid people.”

Two unvaxxed women succumb to Covid in Mohali

After no Covid-related deaths in the tricity for five consecutive days, two unvaccinated patients succumbed to the virus in Mohali.

Aged 60 and 76, both patients were women and lived in Kharar and Mohali city, respectively.

In terms of new cases, 261 people were found positive for the virus on Tuesday, up from 152 the day before.

Chandigarh led the daily with 97 cases, followed by Mohali with 90 and Panchkula with 74.

Meanwhile, tricity’s active cases dipped further, from 1,730 on Monday to 1,703 on Tuesday. However, as many as 768 confirmed patients are still infected in Chandigarh, another 610 in Mohali and 325 in Panchkula.