At 1.5%, Himachal’s Covid fatality rate higher than national average
To date, 1,647 persons in the state have died due to complications caused by the virus; over 64% were men
SHIMLA: With the deadly second wave of the coronavirus pandemic raging across the nation, Himachal Pradesh’s fatality rate has surpassed the national average even as shortage of oxygen cylinders continues to plague the state government.
The hill state’s Covid case fatality rate has increased to 1.5% against the national average of 1.1%. So far, 1,647 people in the state have died due to complications caused by the virus.
Of the total fatalities, 1,057 (64.1%) were male and 590 (35.9%) female. As many as 1,062 victims (64.5%) had comorbidities — 50% (532) had diabetes mellitus, 44.8% (476) had hypertension, 10.7%(113) had chronic kidney disease, 8% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Low recovery rate
The state’s recovery rate is also low. At 78.1%, Himachal’s recovery rate is below the national average of 81.9% and global average of 85.4%.
Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday convened a meeting with the Opposition to discuss the Covid situation in the state.
At present, the state is facing a shortage of empty oxygen cylinders and has a limited stock of Remdesivir.
The meeting was attended by leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, senior Congress leader Asha Kumari , Vidhan Sabha speaker Vipin Singh Parmar and lone Communist Party of India legislator Rakesh Singha.
“We questioned the government over the availability of Remdesivir injections in the state,,” senior Congress legislator Asha Kumari, said adding that oxygen from Chamba had to be brought to Mandi for refilling, which was a nine-hour one-way commute.