Surpassing all previous figures, Punjab on Sunday reported the steepest hike of 2,628 fresh cases of the novel coronavirus, taking the state’s Covid-19 tally just short of 80,000-mark. The state, in the past week, has reported the steepest number of cases for five times, and recorded more than 2000 cases six times — with the infection tally now standing at 79,679.
The State had, for the first time, reported above 2000 figure on September 7 with 2,110 cases in a single day, followed by 2137 on September 9, 2464 on September 10, and 2526 on September 11.
With 68 casualties reported in the past 24 hours, the COVID-19 death toll now stands at 2356. Maximum 11 deaths were reported from Amritsar, followed by 10 in Patiala; six each in Bathinda and Jalandhar; five from Ludhiana; four from Kapurthala; three each from Pathankot, Mohali, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, and Fazilka; two each from Mansa, Moga, and Ropar; and one each Barnala, Tarn Taran, Faridkot, Gurdaspur, and SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr).
Among districts, SAS Nagar (Mohali) reported whopping 433 cases, followed by 327 in Patiala, 274 in Ludhiana, 260 in Gurdaspur, 252 in Jalandhar, 188 in Amritsar, 104 in Bathinda, 79 in Hoshiarpur, 74 in Sangrur, 71 from Faridkot, 67 from Ferozepur, 66 from Muktsar, 64 from Kapurthala, 57