Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 30

In five months, the Covid cases in Ludhiana district have crossed the 10,000 mark. With 213 more testing positive today, the number of cases has gone to 10,039. Fifteen persons lost their lives to the virus. The month of August saw 6,793 cases, double the cases reported from March to July.

The cases saw a surge post unlock. Nearly 87 per cent of cases have been reported from urban areas. High population density is the main reason for the high number of cases from urban areas.

In March, two cases were reported. The number rose to 78 in April and further to 195 in May. When unlock started in June, the cases rose to 840 and July logged 3,246 infections. Till August 30, the cases in Ludhiana district swelled to 10,039.

Till now, 8,938 cases have been reported from Ludhiana urban and 351 people have lost their lives. From rural areas, 336 cases have been reported from Jagraon, 312 from Khanna, 189 from Payal, 140 from Raikot and 124 from Samrala. Fourteen people from Khanna have died of Covid, 11 from Jagraon, eight from Payal, six from Samrala and four from Raikot have succumbed to the virus.

Those who lost their lives today include four women. The deceased were admitted at the DMCH, the CMCH, Deep Hospital, Fortis, SPS Hospital, GTB Hospital, Mohan Dai Oswal Hospital and the Civil Hospital. They were in the age group of 40-70 years and belonged to Civil Lines, Tagore Nagar, Sahnewal, Giaspura, Shimlapuri, Sunet, Atam Nagar, Chandar Nagar, Sherpur Kalan and Ladhowal.

Today, 80 people were reported positive from flu corners and 43 from various OPDs. Twentythree persons found infected were contacts of Covid patients, 10 were healthcare workers and two were policemen.

“Testing is very important to identify positive patients with no symptoms. In order to do that, teams from the Civil Surgeon’s office visit places of the city. Two mobile testing vans and a testing ambulance have also been pressed into service. The camps are being held and sampling is being done for the benefit of people and they should take advantage of this,” said the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajesh Bagga.