Punjab government has managed to convert the highest fatality rate among Covid-19 patients into the highest recovery rate.
In April last week, Punjab’s fatality rate stood at six per cent, which was double than the national average. But within a month, the state has reduced to rate to just two per cent. The state’s recovery rate has also shot up to 92 per cent – highest in the country.
As per the latest figures, Punjab has lost 40 lives due to deadly novel coronavirus.
The officials say that several comorbidities and lack of health-seeking behaviour among the people in the state led to a high morbidity rate at the beginning of the outbreak.
“The number of Covid-19 deaths in the state were higher as compared to nearby states. The high comorbidity, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other immunodeficient disorders were the reason for the high mortality earlier, ” Dr Avneet Kaur, Punjab health director said.
But the Punjab government swung into action. The state has now increased the testing and the lockdown has also resulted in bringing down the death rate from six to two per cent.
Punjab’s doubling rate of Covid-19 cases has also improved from three days on May 5 to 102 days on May 24, which is much higher as compared to the national average of 13 days. Recovery rate has also improved to 92 per cent.
Punjab has reported total 2,060 cases, out of which 1,898 have recovered, leaving only 122 active cases in the state.
Even as the government has managed to bring the situation under control, the opposition has accused it of ignoring the plight of quarantine centres. The state government is in the dock for the recent protests organised by the two leading hospitals complaining substandard personal protection equipment (PPE).
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