Punjab on Sunday reported 14 new coronavirus cases and one death in the past 24 hours, with Jalandhar accounting for majority 12 of them, while one each was reported from Ludhiana and Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar (Nawanshahr). The one death was also reported from Jalandhar.
The official health bulletin, released by the State Government in the evening, reported just three cases from Jalandhar — all of them being the contacts of the previously diagnosed patients. Later, nine more cases were recorded in the district, which is now topping the chart with maximum 78 positive cases in the state.
These nine cases are yet to be added in the official figures, which would be 322. However, the state health bulletin shows that there are 313 total confirmed cases in the state.
These nine cases, who were tested positive in Jalandhar, are from Raja Garden and Raj Nagar, which are the city’s most affected areas.
At the same time, Jalandhar’s death toll has also reached to three after a 48-year-old man, who was found positive by a private hospital on Saturday within hours of his death, was confirmed to have died of the virus. With this, the state’s death toll has reached 18.
Jalandhar has replaced Mohali as the district with the most cases. As per latest figures, Jalandhar has 78 cases, followed by Mohali at 63, and Patiala at 61.
The health bulletin shows Punjab has, so far, sent 14,317 samples for testing, of which 10497 were negative, and the result of 3507 is awaited. Currently, the state has 211 active cases with one person being critical and on ventilator support.
Another positive case reported on Sunday was from Ludhiana, who was also a contact of an already diagnosed patient.
Nawanshahr, which made it to the group of “green” districts from being a hotspot after keeping coronavirus at bay for 30 long days, reported a positive case on late Saturday.
A 25-year-old truck driver of Boothgarh village in Balachaur was tested positive for Covid-19, a day before, after his return to his village from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on April 23.
The patient reported to the flu-corner of the hospital with influenza-like symptoms and a cough. His samples were collected on the same day, which came out to be positive.
Implementing the containment plan, the District Administration has sealed Boothgarh village, besides the adjoining three villages — Lohgarh, Mannewal and Tejpalna.
“Just as the District Administration Nawanshahr, the original hotspot, had painstakingly treated 18 Covid patients to full recovery, out pops a madman like Jatinder Kumar, who not only infects himself but also puts four villages to risk. I have no hesitation in naming and shaming him,” tweeted the Special Chief Secretary Karan Bir Singh Sidhu.
He added, “48 contact listing was ensured along with conducting of tests. Started treatment of Jatinder Kumar, along with testing of his two companions. Results of the duo are awaited.”
A senior district official said that Jatinder Kumar left for Delhi on April 16 from his village on his truck with Sandeep Ravi, and reached Hoshiarpur on the same day at Choudhary transport Sabji Mandi for loading the truck. From there, they reached Delhi on April 19 at Aarti Traders at Delhi’s Azaadpur Mandi for loading or unloading truck, and stayed there overnight.
“On April 20, they left for Jammu and reached at Balihaal Sabji Mandi at night. From there they left back for Boothgarh on the next day. On return journey, they pick up their friend, Naresh from Lakahnpur border. Before entering the village, they met few persons at Boothgarh naaka, and stayed at their respective houses from April 2 onwards,” said the official.
Meanwhile, the village Sarpanch informed the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), deputed at village, about their arrival, and after checking, they found Jatinder symptomatic (irritation in throat) and advised sampling while other two persons were asymptomatic on April 23. After test, the report came to be positive on April 25.
“Immediately, the information was given to Balachaur SMO and RRT and the medical teams were activated and contact tracing was started…The other two co-travelers were also shifted for isolation at Nawanshahr District Hospital and samples were taken. As many 88 contacts were traced and 48 samples were taken from both the close and community contacts. All the contacts were put under surveillance and further observation,” added the official.
TOTAL 12, INCLUDING EIGHT FROM JAGATPURA, RECOVERED
As many 12 corona positive patients, including eight from the Jagatpura village in Mohali district and four from Pathankot, were cured of coronavirus and discharged on Sunday.
They were discharged after testing negative for the deadly disease in two consecutive tests.
Mohali district has reported a total of 63 cases, out of which 22 have been cured, and 39 are active and two have succumbed to the deadly virus. In Pathankot, out of total 25 confirmed cases, 15 are active while nine have been cured till date and one died.
Mohali Civil Surgeon Dr Manjit Singh said that all recovered patients hail from Jawaharpur village near Dera Bassi, which has witnessed the highest number of infections in the district so far. The total number of patients who have recovered in the district so far has reached 22, whereas a total of 13 patients belonging to Jawaharpur alone have recovered.
He said that eight patients who recovered on Sunday are Manish (32), Gurjeet Singh (42), Jaspreet Singh (23), Reena (30), Taranpreet Singh (7), Sharanpreet Singh (14), Gurfateh Singh (one-and-a-half years-old) and Pritam Singh (80).
“All the patients would not be sent home as of now and instead would be quarantined for 14 days as a precautionary measure at a quarantine centre in Sector 70 in Mohali,” he said, adding that they will be sent home only after the quarantine period of 14 days is completed successfully. All the remaining patients are undergoing treatment at Gian Sagar Hospital and their condition is stable, he said.