‘Elderly worst hit with fatality rate of 43.94%’

Infection and fatality rate among the old people is high as majority of the old people suffer with comorbidity, say doctors

The fatality rate among 51-60 years group remained 25.27% whereas infection rate was 13.66%, the fatality rate among those in the age group of 41-50 years was 16.59%, while the infection rate was 16.85% AMIT MOHAN PRASAD, ACS, health and family welfare

LUCKNOW: The elderly people were the worst hit in the second wave of the Covid pandemic, suggests data.

“The fatality rate of people who are 60 years of age and above was 43.94% even as the infection rate among them increased to 11.78% from 8.57% recorded in July last year during the first wave,” said additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad on Tuesday.

“The fatality rate among 51-60 years group remained 25.27% whereas infection rate was 13.66%, the fatality rate among the people in the age group of 41-50 years was 16.59%, while the infection rate was 16.85%,” Prasad added.

The infection rate among people in the age group of 21 to 30 years was 24.20%, the infection rate among those who are in 31-40 years age group was 22.20%.Among the children in the age group of 0-10 years, the infection rate was 2.88%, while in the 10-20 years age group the infection rate remained 24.20%, the fatality rate among the youths and children was low in comparison to the elderly people, Prasad said.

Even as the Covid cases are coming down, the health department has urged the elderly people, pregnant women and children to remain in-door to protect themselves from infection.

“Infection and fatality rate among the old people is high as majority of the old people suffer with co-morbidity,” said Dr SK Srivastava, a medical practitioner. Along with increasing the vaccination coverage of the senior citizen, the state government should also ensure adequate health care of the old patients staying in home isolation, he said.