Twenty-five per cent of the total coronavirus cases in Haryana have been reported among the people from 25 to 34 years of age while patients in 55 years and above bracket account for 65.73 per cent deaths, according to the data received from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Haryana on Saturday.
As per data, a total of 932 deaths have been reported from all the districts of the State out of which 70.70 percent of deaths were of males and 29.30 females.
Talking to ‘The Pioneer’ over the phone, Haryana Director General of Health Services Dr Suraj Bhan Kamboj said that the State Health department has improved its Covid-19 testing considerably over the months. “We continue to focus on three Ts that are testing, tracing and treatment to prevent fatalities. We have set a target of keeping the fatality rate below one percent,” he added.
According to the data, there are 4510 Covid-19 cases and 0.1 per cent death rate below 14 years of age. 12,962 cases and 0.1 per cent death recorded among the 15-24 age group. In the 25-34 age bracket, 23, 648 cases were reported and 0.2 per cent deaths. 0.6 percent deaths and 16, 850 were registered among people from 35 to 44 years of age. 1.1 percent fatalities and 12, 225 cases were reported in the age group of 45-54.
The death rate has been even higher among people with comorbidities (771 deaths) like diabetes, heart disorders and chronic kidney ailments. As many as 88,332 new Covid-19 cases including 18, 875 active cases, 68,525 cured/discharged from the hospital, 932 deaths were reported in the State so far. A total of 10.5 per cent of the total Covid-19 deaths among those aged 95-104 years, while those between 85-94 years of age are most vulnerable, accounting for 12.3 per cent of total fatalities, the latest data from the health department showed.
Though less at risk, those between 5 and 24 years accounted for 0.1 per cent deaths due to the disease.
The data put out on Saturday showed that the infection case was higher among younger people with 23, 648 cases reported among 25-34 years old, while another 16, 850 cases were in people 35-44 years of age.
However, the low case fatality among younger people was indicative that most of them were cured of the infection, whereas those above 60 and with co-morbidities were more vulnerable to infection with a higher death rate even as the number of cases remained low among the elderly.
When contacted Dr Usha Gupta, director, Haryana Health services said that the elderly with comorbidities were usually vulnerable to all influenza because of low immunity and they needed to be more careful against catching coronavirus. However, the young also needed to be concerned about social and physical distancing as they would eventually move out to work once the lockdown was lifted. “We advised people to maintain safe physical distances even within a family to avoid cross infection, particular among the elderly and those with low immunity.”
Data further reveals that Faridabad reported the highest number of deaths as the district saw 185 deaths followed by Gurugram (143), Kurukshetra (60), Karnal (60), Panipat (59), Ambala (54), Rohtak (43), Sonepat (41), Panchkula (40), Yamunanagar (38), Hisar (28), Sirsa (31), Rewari (26), Kaithal (20), Fatehabad (20), Jhajjar (19), Bhiwani (19), Nuh (16), Palwal (14), Jind (12), Mahendergarh (3), Charkhi Dadri (1).
Meanwhile, Covid-19 death data in Faridabad and Gurugram is no different from that of anywhere else in terms of the majority being those of people above 60 years of age, a large proportion of deaths from the virus also comprises relatively younger residents.
The latest data of Gurugram showed that 42.8 percent of all Covid-19 deaths in the district were of people between 20 to 60 years of age. Gurugram has so far seen 143 people succumb to the contagious disease, of which 80 were above 60 years old. The data goes on to show that 30 percent of deaths are of people between 40 to 60 years of age and that people between 20 to 40 years of age comprise 12.8 per cent of the total deaths so far. Significantly, of the total deaths, 42 patients did not have any comorbidities.
When contacted an official from the Gurugram district Health Department said that tests are being ramped up in several areas so that patients can be provided with timely treatment. It is seen that most patients were still hesitant of coming out and getting tested.
He further said, “A lot of young people initially were apprehensive of getting tested and it was only known about their infection once it got worsened.
Though the situation has improved, it still needs to be made more efficient. For young patients, stigma and fear is still a major concern. We have focused to prevent fatalities. In the last two weeks, there has been a sudden spike in the number of fatalities in Covid-19 with 11 deaths being reported.”
He further said that to make sure that the number of deaths due to Covid-19 does not increase further, the District Administration has begun dispensing oximeters to certain patients getting treated at home. In the past, medications like Hydroxychloroquine have also been given to patients, he added.