CHANDIGARH: On Sunday, 73 Covid cases were reported in Chandigarh, which is the highest single day spike after February 12, when 87 cases were reported before the third wave started to ebb. After a gap of four months, this was the highest single-day surge in Covid cases. Active cases reached 322 and positivity rate soared to 5.92% on Sunday. The weekly rate was recorded at 4.18%.
“It still cannot be labelled as fourth wave as there are the same variants of Omicron circulating. There is no severity and a rapid rise in the cases. Patients are coming with flu-like symptoms and also get tested when they need surgery or other medical investigations,” said Prof P V M Lakshmi of community medicine and school of public health, PGIMER.
She added, “Seasonal fluctuations will happen. Now, those who were not infected in any of the waves have been exposed. Only a small percentage are those of reinfection. Omicron is a mild infection, but transmission rate is faster.”
In 20 days, 596 Covid cases have been reported in June, which is more than the two months of May and June, when an overall 506 Covid cases were reported. Experts feel that the numbers will rise, though majority will be mild to moderate cases.
However, Prof Lakshmi said, “We need to be careful and conduct genome sequencing to monitor any change in the variant. All symptomatic Covid positives should be isolated for a week. Those who have influenza-like illness or severe acute respiratory infection must get tested.”
One patient is on ventilator in PGI, while 17 are on oxygen support.
There are 93,057 confirmed cases, including 1,165 deaths, while recovery count is 91,570. On Sunday, 46 patients were discharged.
46 cases in Mohali, 24 logged in Panchkula
Mohali reported 46 Covid cases on Sunday. No death was reported. Active cases have shot up to 207. Of the 96,370 cases reported so far, 95,013 patients have been cured. Meanwhile, 87 people were vaccinated in Mohali on Sunday.
The first dose was administered to 17 persons including three in the age group of 15 to 17 and the second to 58, including eight in the age group of 15 to 17. A total of 29 persons in the 12 to 14 year age group got jabs.
Panchkula reported 24 fresh Covid cases on Sunday. No death was reported.
Active cases have reached 137. As per chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Mukta Kumar, out of 44,651 Covid cases reported so far, 44,100 patients have been cured and discharged from the civil hospital in Sector 6.
The CMO also said that 6,28,619 samples have been collected in the district so far.
