Punjab pushes for testing, patient contact tracing
Even as Haryana has recorded more Covid-19 cases as compared to Punjab, its fatality rate is still lower than its immediate neighbour; government data shows that Punjab has done lesser per million tests and cases are doubling faster in the state as compar
CHANDIGARH: Punjab has focused on testing and contact tracing in the past two months to contain the spread of Covid-19 even as the mortality rate continues to be an area of concern for the Amarinder Singh-led government.
For about a week, 300-400 cases are getting added daily to the state’s patient tally, but in comparison to many other states, Punjab’s caseload has not increased that much.
On May 21, Punjab was among the top 10 states with a caseload of 2,028 and by July 20, the state was at 18th position.
On May 21, Punjab was conducting only 1,865 tests per million of population, which now has gone up to 14,204 tests per million, claims the health department. Currently, the state is conducting 10,000 tests per day, five times the number on May 20. The state is planning to increase the daily testing to 20,000 by September 10, it is learnt.
“Punjab had a different set of challenges because of the arrival of NRIS and labourers for farm and industrial sectors. Restrictions in movement also helped us in curbing the spread of virus as compared to other states,” said Punjab Covid-19 nodal officer Dr Rajesh Bhaskar.
70% OF CASES CONTACTS OF THOSE TESTED +VE
Nearly 70% of Punjab’s total cases are the contacts of those having tested positive. As a preventive measure, the state has tested 10 people against each infected patient to break the infection chain. The health authorities claim that they have traced 99% of the contacts of every patient.
“In cases where patients don’t share their contacts, we take help of police and procure CDR reports of mobile phone and trace their locations and contacts. Help of IIT Chennai is also being taken to get details of GPS locations of the positives,” an official said.
Besides, the government has made it mandatory for every person visiting Punjab to get registered on the COVA app. Also, it is compulsory for every person coming from outside the state for more than 72 hours to quarantine themselves in their homes for 14 days. Since July 17 when curfew relaxation were announced, of the 2.34 lakh people who arrived in Punjab from different states and abroad, 75,148 (32%) were tested for Covid-19. Of these, 1, 353 were found infected with a positivity rate of 1.8%.
STATE’S CRF AS HIGH AS NATIONAL AVERAGE
At 2.5%, the state high case fatality rate (CFR) continues to be a matter of concern as it is as high as the national average.
From total 265 deaths the states has witnessed due to the coronavirus, maximum were above sixty years of age.
“This can be attributed to the high rate of co-morbidities among those infected in Punjab. Our analysis reveals that nearly 30% of fatalities were actually due to other illnesses the patients were suffering from. Covid was not the primary cause of their death,” Dr Bhaskar claimed.
With the state’s daily case count touching 400, the government has roped in private hospitals for treating Covid-19 patients after capping treatment rates at these facilities.
Punjab had a different set of challenges than the neighbouring state because of arrival of NRIS and labourers for farm and industrial sectors. By May, we realised that testing will be our biggest weapon.
DR RAJESH BHASKAR, Punjab Covid-19 nodal officer