Covid-19 spreading fast in Punjab's smaller districts

Chandigarh: The spread of Covid-19 has picked up pace in the least populated districts of Punjab , which were earlier comparatively less affected by the pandemic outbreak. The number of cases has registered a jump of 66.59% in the last 30 days in six lesser populated districts — Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Ropar, Mansa and Kapurthala — of the state.

These districts added 951 cases, including five deaths in the period from July 1 to July 30.

Barnala, the least populated district of the state, added 132 cases in the month till July 30, of which 98 were reported in the last seven days. The district has a population of 5,95,527 and population density of 402 per square kilometer as per Census 2011. Fatehgarh Sahib and Kapurthala also reported 78 cases each in the last seven days, while 65 cases surfaced in Ropar and 54 in Faridkot during the same period.

The health department has identified 15 high priority areas — micro containment zones — in these districts for taking corrective steps. The rise in the number of cases has led to faster doubling rate — days it would take for the number of cases to double — in these districts. The doubling rate of Barnala dropped from 45 on July 16 to 7 on July 30, while in Ropar the rate came down from 28 to 16. Similarly, in Mansa, the doubling rate recorded a drop from 42 to 20, and from 35 to 13 in Kapurthala.

People letting their guard down by not taking precautions and not following the restrictions is seen as the key reason for the virus spreading its tentacles in the smaller and lesser populated districts. The government from time to time has been issuing health advisories, which it is struggling to make people follow religiously.

Despite repeated appeals and sustained awareness drives, people are commonly seen not taking precautions like wearing masks and maintaining proper distance. Even hefty fines have so far failed to deter people as they rampantly continue to violate the instructions. On an average, around 5,000 people are daily challaned for not wearing masks.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has time and again expressed displeasure over people not taking precaution and on July 29 he had warned people of raising the amount of fines if they continue not to follow the health advisories.

Punjab government’s adviser on health issues, Dr K K Talwar, said it had been scientifically proven that wearing a mask regularly prevents the spread of the infection. “If everyone starts wearing a face mask in public, 80% of the battle against the virus is won,” said Dr Talwar.