UT sees 14th fatality and biggest single-day spike

CHANDIGARH: A 67-year-old man from Sector 38 became the fourteenth Covid fatality in Chandigarh on Sunday, while 35 new cases surfaced in the biggest single-day spike so far, which took the total to 887.

The previous steepest rise was recorded on July 18, when 31 people had tested positive.

The elderly man was admitted to the Covid facility in Sector 48 on July 5 and breathed his last on Sunday, confirmed health officials. Meanwhile, cases are being reported from across urban and rural pockets of the UT.

Three cases each were reported from Sectors 21, 40, 41 and 47, while two cases each surfaced in Sectors 19 and 37 besides Ram Darbar, Mauli Jagran, Manimajra and Dhanas. Infections were also recorded in Sectors 15, 23, 24, 30, 32, 35, 42 and 48 besides Raipur Khurd and Maloya.

As many as 302 cases remain active in the city, with 572 patients recovering so far, including 17 discharged on Sunday, and 13 succumbing to the disease.The recovery rate stands at 64% while fatality rate stands at 1.5% in Chandigarh.

Meanwhile, acting on UT administrator’s directions amid the spike in cases, police issued 93 challans to people found without masks in the city on Sunday. At 79, most violators were found at Sukhna Lake. The offence carries ₹500 fine.

19 CASES IN PANCHKULA

The number of Covid cases rose to 432 in Panchkula district, with 19 more people testing positive on Sunday. Those found include two children, aged 3 and 5, from Sectors 21 and 11, respectively. and sector 21. Cases were also reported from Sectors 6, 8, 12 and 19 in the city besides Mansa Devi Complex, Barwala, Kundi, Pinjore and Nada Sahib.

Meanwhile, unable to establish the source of infection in 20 cases in the district, the Panchkula health department had decided to approach the police for assistance. “Police will check their mobile phone records to ascertain the locations they visited, as it’s important to track down the source,” said Dr Jasjeet Kaur, civil surgeon, Panchkula.

While, 251 cases remain active, 180 people have been cured and one patient has died so far.