Second wave hit 60-74 age group worst in Himachal

The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has been most fatal for senior citizens, who account for nearly 40% of the total deaths, in Himachal Pradesh.

The health department data shows that as on May 4, a total of 1,647 people died of Covid-19 in the state since the pandemic broke out. Of them, 650 are in the age group of 60 to 74 years. This is 39% of the fatalities.

The mean age of the Covid dead is 63 years. “There is high prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in Himachal Pradesh, which is one of the primary reasons why senior citizens succumb to the disease,” says Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital medicine department head Jitendera Mokta. Patients aged between 45 and 59 years were the second most vulnerable group with a total of 416 deaths reported till date. This age group constitutes about 25% of the state’s fatalities.

The next affected section is those above 75 years. A total of 368 deaths have been reported in this age group. This is 22.34% of the Covid casualties.

Similarly, 139 (8.4%) fatalities occurred among people aged between 30 and 44 years, while 20 (1.2%) victims were aged between 15 and 29 years and six (0.3%) were children.

HP logs highest one-day spike as 3,942 test +ve DHARAMSHALA: Himachal Pradesh recorded 3,942 fresh Covid-19 infections, the highest single-day spike since the outbreak for the second consecutive day, taking the state’s total caseload to 1,18,729.

The death toll mounted to 1,707 after 45 more patients succumbed to the contagion.

{ JAI RAM THAKUR } CHIEF MINISTER

State’s CFR is rising due to delay in shifting serious patients to hospitals.