Virus storm threatens to engulf south Malwa dists

Bathinda sees 520% jump in August; 7 districts contribute one-fifth of 36,407 new cases of infection in the last one month

CHANDIGARH As the coronavirus count in Punjab more than tripled in a month, the virus is spreading in the south Malwa region of the state at a rapid pace. The seven districts in south Malwa, where the infection spread was slow initially, have seen a sharp rise in the Covid-19 cases in August. A districtwise analysis of official data shows that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Bathinda, Mansa, Moga, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Faridkot, and Fazilka has seen a 334% jump over a month, going up from 1,991 on July 31 to 8,847 on August 30, as compared to the cumulative increase of 226% in the state during the same period.

Bathinda has reported a massive surge of 520% with the number of cases in the district soaring to 2,165 on August 30 from the July 31 figure of 349. As per the health department statistics, the fivefold increase in Bathinda is the highest in the state this month followed by Mansa at 398%. Similarly, the remaining five districts in the region have seen a higher percentage rise in the case count than the state average.

Also, their contribution to the new infections confirms the rising trend. The seven districts contributed 19% of the 36,407 new coronavirus cases reported between August 1 and 30 as compared to 12% during the previous month. On August 30, 22% of new infections in the state were from these districts. The health department has declared 33 containment and micro containment zones with a population of over 28,000 to curb the spread.

Punjab’s adviser, health, medical education, and research, Dr KK Talwar said the new cases were mostly from urban areas of Bathinda, Mansa and other districts due to increased movement of people. “We are increasing testing and contract tracing in these districts with a focus on high-risk groups,” he said. Besides the south Malwa districts, Kapurthala and Gurdaspur and have also seen a jump of 383% and 365% in coronavirus cases this month.

More population density, bigger patient load Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, SAS Nagar, and Amritsar, the industrial districts which also have the highest density of population in the state, continued to account for the bulk of the coronavirus cases in August as well. Of the new infections, 57% were from these five districts even though there is a declining trend as the number stood at 64% in July.

Health department data showed the hardest-hit district of Ludhiana is still struggling to get a grip on the virus spread and the case fatality rate. The city which has the highest population density in the state at 978 persons per square km (Census 2011) alone contributed 21% of the new positive cases, but a bigger concern is the high number of Covid-19 deaths as 30% of all fatalities in Punjab in August were in Ludhiana.

An official said Amritsar was reporting a stable number with a 110% increase in the number of cases while Jalandhar showed a slight decline in virus spread in August as compared to the previous month. But the situation in SAS Nagar and Patiala remains grim due to hike of 330% and 252% in cases in one month.