PGIMER Director Dr Jagat Ram on Monday said that there are chances of a spike in Covid-19 cases again in view of the onset of festival season, upcoming winters and fast-increasing pollution levels.
With Covid positive numbers consistently rising for the past one week, it’s high time that we guard up and follow ‘Covid appropriate behaviour’ without any lackadaisical approach, he said.
The Director said that the number of Covid cases have increased from 55 to 111 in one week. The number of positive patients has more than doubled in PGIMER. Out of 111 Covid cases, 29 belonged to Chandigarh, 40 to Punjab, 18 to Haryana, 16 to Himachal Pradesh and eight to other states, he said.
The Director said PGIMER has tested 3,362 COVID samples from patients coming from neighbouring states and found an 8.7 percent positivity rate during one week. He said, “On the basis of the studies on other respiratory viruses like SARS, influenza, etc. which show seasonal variance with cases spiking in winters, there is a possibility that the Coronavirus infections might also rise in the coming months. Furthermore, low humidity promotes evaporation of viral particles and aerosol formations, which can increase the airborne spread of disease.”
Deliberating about how the high levels of pollution might factor-in the surging numbers, Dr Jagat Ram said, “Pollution levels rise in winters as the cold air is dense and moves sluggishly. Further, particulate matter is lethal for respiratory health as it enters the alveoli of lungs and damages them, compromising the respiratory health. Under these circumstances, if one contracts COVID, it’s likely to be more severe.”
“With the festival of lights just being a few days away, people are already in the festive spirit and are far less vigilant. With mask use down and mobility up, we are definitely contributing to accelerate the rise in cases. Till the time the vaccine arrives, wearing a proper mask, following hand hygiene and social distancing is the mainstay to prevent COVID-19 infection,” he added.
BAN IN FIRECRACKERS TILL FURTHER ORDERS IN CHANDIGARH
Manoj Parida, Adviser to UT Administrator on Monday said that the National Green Tribunal has passed comprehensive order regarding firecrackers, which supports the decision already taken by the Chandigarh Administration.
The Administration has banned the sale and bursting of firecrackers in the union territory of Chandigarh till further orders.
During the review meeting on COVID-19 in the city, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore on Monday directed Deputy Commissioner Mandip Brar to return the deposits taken from traders for holding draw of lots for deciding stalls for sale of crackers. He appealed to the residents to take precautions and strictly follow the COVID protocol during Diwali celebrations, in view of rising number of Coronavirus cases.
He also directed all hospitals to restore the original OPD facilities for medical treatment fully after the festival of Diwali.
During the meeting, Dr Amandeep Kang, Director Health Services said that they have tested 5,858 COVID samples in the past one week and the positivity rate was 8.6 percent, which showed an increase in trend in the city.
It was informed that more than 25,000 people have been penalized for violation of COVID protocol such as not wearing masks and breaking social distancing norms in Chandigarh.