India’s total tally of Covid-19 cases rose to 4,30,62,569 with 2,483 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, and the active cases increased to 15,636, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 5,23,622 with 1,399 fresh fatalities.
After 12 weeks of continuous decline in Covid cases, Punjab is now amongst those states where the infection rate has suddenly started increasing, with the rate of 209.3% last week as compared to a week fortnight ago. In the last 10 days, the state witnessed 188 new cases and one death due to Covid infection.
Similarly, though at a low rate of 10.8%, the Covid infection has also started rising in Himachal Pradesh as compared to the neighbouring states as well as the national average.
The state recorded 93 cases from April 15 to 24. The weekly positivity rate in all the districts of Punjab was under 1% while one district – Lahaul and Spiti of Himachal had a positivity rate of 22.22%, the third-highest among 21 districts in the country having a weekly positivity rate of 10% or more.
On Monday, Punjab reported 20 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the infection tally to 7,59,442, according to a medical bulletin. The toll from the pandemic reached 17,748, including three death cases that were not reported earlier.
As per the medical bulletin, Punjab has witnessed 349 fresh cases of COVID-19 so far this April. The number of active cases in the state stands at 167, the bulletin said. While Jalandhar reported eight fresh cases, followed by six in Mohali and three in Patiala. Whereas Chandigarh reported 9 new Covid cases, taking the total count to 92,007, though, no new deaths were being reported.
Now the sudden rise in Covid cases is a matter of concern for the govt as well as the public, and with the return of the ‘compulsory mask rule’, the people are advised to be alert and take precautionary measures to avoid any risk of infection.
