Punjab: Non-adherence to COVID-19 norms behind surge in infections
What's the story
With Punjab witnessing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, health officials on Monday ascribed the upswing to people not adhering to safety guidelines like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. According to the state health department data, Punjab has recorded daily cases between 200 to 350 for the last several days.
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Almost 5,000 cases added in 21 days starting February 1
It added almost 5,000 cases in a period of 21 days starting February 1. The number of active cases on February 21 stood at 3,019 as against 2,101 on February 1, an increase of 44 percent, the data showed.
Infection
People should shed the casual approach: Health officials
"People are not following COVID-19 safety precautions which is the main reason behind the surge in cases in the state," said Rajesh Bhaskar, Punjab's Nodal Officer for COVID-19. Officials stressed that people should shed the casual approach. They said some students and teachers testing positive for coronavirus in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Ludhiana, and other districts have also contributed to the infection tally.
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Once a hotspot, SBS Nagar has most active cases today
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar has the highest number of active cases in Punjab at 583, according to health department data. When COVID-19 had first hit India last year, SBS Nagar had emerged as one of the hotspots. Later, the authorities successfully managed to contain infections.
Expert team
Genome testing being done to check possibility of another strain
Punjab Health Director GB Singh said, "We have sent a team of experts to SBS Nagar to see why the cases are on the rise in the district." "The state Health Department has also sent some samples for genome testing to the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi to check for the possibility of another strain of the virus," he said.
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Centre has asked five states to implement stricter measures
Punjab is among five states that have been asked by the Centre to refocus on strict surveillance, containment, and RT-PCR testing to check the growing number of cases. The other four states are Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.
COVID-19 vaccine
Healthcare and frontline workers still hesitant to take COVID-19 vaccine
So far, only 79,000 of 2.06 lakh healthcare workers and 4,000 of 1.82 lakh frontline workers have been administered the COVID-19 vaccine in Punjab, showing they are still hesitant to take the vaccine. Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu had on Sunday said healthcare workers who do not get the COVID-19 vaccine would not be allowed quarantine leave if they get infected later.
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Bear your cost of treatment, healthcare and frontline workers told
The health minister had also said that healthcare and frontline workers would have to bear the cost of their treatment. As of Sunday, Punjab's infection tally stood at 1,78,459 and the death toll at 5,754.